Bersih has raised concerns over what it described as a strategic attempt by certain parties to disenfranchise potential new voters in Selangor.

The Bersih steering committee in a statement today said it was alarmed at the exploitation of the voter objection provision in the Elections (Registration of Electors) Regulations 2002, which allowed for objections to new voter registrants.

"The objection provision in the regulations is in place to weed out phantom voters but unfortunately, the recent trend in objections may give rise to a misperception that there is a conscious, racially-targeted effort to block new voters from registering," it said.

When there are objections, a new voter must present himself or herself at the Election Commission's (EC) office for an enquiry and prove that they are a legitimate voter in the constituency.

Bersih said its staff and volunteers spent two hours at the EC's office in Shah Alam on March 6 to observe the objection process and noted some worrying incidents.

It found at least three of the objectors were Petaling Jaya Selatan Umno committee members and a group of objectors were also seen taking instructions from a single person.

The electoral reform group also found an objector who did not know about filing an objection and was only informed to be present by Selangor Umno.

"One newly-registered voter was surprised to see that his neighbour, who he often spoke to, was his objector who had claimed that he did not live at the registered residence," it said.

Bersih said it was informed that there were an average of 100 objections a day and a new voter must be compensated RM100 by the objector if it was found to be unjustified.

"Are there hidden hands behind this flurry of voter objections, especially in Selangor?

"If up to 100 objections were rejected per day, this could amount to up to RM10,000 in fines per day," it said.

Agency footing the compensation

Bersih said it also learnt that an "agency" was footing the compensation for the objections.

"A newly-registered voter asked her objector when the objector would pay the compensation.

"The objector said the voter will be paid in three months by an 'agency'.

"When a Bersih volunteer took a photo of the exchange, a man grabbed her phone to stop her. He declared he was from 'Jaringan Melayu'," it said.

Bersih questioned how many objections the EC had received in 2016 and how many newly-registered voters actually turned up at their objection hearing, failing which, they will be excluded from the electoral roll.

"Bersih congratulates these newly registered voters and urges other voters facing objections to make a conscious effort and sacrifice their time to turn up at their hearings to claim their right to vote.

"We urge all authentic new voters who face such issues to contact Bersih so we can seek clarification from the EC," it said.

Bersih stressed that the EC has a clear duty to enfranchise voters and prevent abuse of a legitimate electoral process.

It also urged new voters for the first quarter of 2017 to check on their voter status.

"Should they receive an objection letter, it is imperative for them to attend the hearing or else their name might not be registered," it said.