A combination of heavy riot police presence, over-enthusiastic supporters and poor polling station arrangements by the Election Commission (EC) may have contributed to the low turnout for the Kajang by-election, election watchdog Malaysians for Free and Fair Election (Mafrel) says.

 

Mafrel chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said observation at two polling stations, Sekolah Rendah Agama Batu 10 and Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Sekamat, saw party supporters attempting to court voters, even though the campaigning period was over.

 

"As emotions ran high under the hot sun, I observed a few scuffles between party supporters of contesting candidates, prompting the presence of Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) trucks," Syed Ibrahim said in a statement today.

 

He added that heavy police presence may have also discouraged voters from coming out.

 

"I observed that at 3.15pm, suddenly a convoy of buses and trucks carrying FRU and Light Strike Force men entered the polling stations (in Sungai Chua).

 

"Was it preventive action by the security forces or was it an attempt to intimidate voters, especially in a Chinese majority area?" he said.

 

Syed Ibrahim ( left ) said the poor arrangement of polling stations in Sungai Chua also resulted in bad traffic congestion.

 

"Four voting stations (in Sungai Chua) were placed in a one kilometre radius using the same narrow access road that is only suitable for light vehicles," he said.

 

He added that EC's intention may have been good to make it convenient for voters but placing so many polling stations close to each other could have the opposite effect.

 

Pollster Ilham Centre in a survey released yesterday also acknowledged Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's conviction and missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 which grabbed headlines had distracted voters from the by-election.

It said these events had caused the attention of Malaysians and particularly Kajang residents, to shift day by day throughout the Kajang by-election period.