A recent nationwide operation to flush out illegal immigrants had unexpected repercussions on voters in the Gaya by-election last Saturday.

Many voters had to move away after their squatter houses were mistakenly demolished by Sabah authorities during the operation.

Umno vice-president Muhammad Muhd Taib told malaysiakini today that many of these voters did not return to cast their ballots.

Muhammad also said a significant number of voters stayed away from polling because they knew the opposition did not stand a chance.

"I was also informed that many voters, especially those in Sandakan and Tawau, did not turn up simply because they were very confident that Barisan Nasional would win," he said.

Muhammad, who was the Umno co-ordinator for the by-election, also acknowledged the fact that many Chinese Malaysian voters had failed to show up.

Malaysiakini learnt that only 34 percent or 6,000 Chinese Malaysian votes were cast of the 19,000 strong community in the constituency, which forms almost 40 percent of the electorate.

Non-Muslim bumiputras, mainly the Kadazandusun community, make up 33.3 percent while Muslim bumiputras (Malay, Bajau, Bugis, Suluk, Sungai and others) constitute 21.64 percent.