MALACCA: The Election Commission is drafting written guidelines for a media code of ethics on general election coverage.

Commission chairman Tan Sri Ab Rashid Ab Rahman said the guidelines would be released soon.

" Previously, there were only verbal guidelines," he said.

The purpose of putting the guidelines into writing is to ensure that the press could function without any problem, Abdul Rashid said.

" We wants to make sure that press is comfortable when covering the elections," he told reporters after a briefing for goverment officers and members of the election campaign enforcement team at the Equatorial Hotel here yesterday.

" Be fair to all political parties and give them coverage," he said.

However, Abdul Rashid cautioned the media that the freedom given to the press or anyone during the elections should not be abused to the extent of disturbing public order.

On the registeration of voters, he said 125,000 were registered during the last three months of 2003.

" This is very good as only about 50,000 people had registered the previous year," he said, adding that they were eligible to vote in upcoming general election.