Election Commission chairperson Mohd Hashim Abdullah has urged voters not to be "swayed" by calls to spoil their votes in the 14th general election (GE14).

The New Straits Times quoted Hashim as saying that the people have their right to vote and choose the government they want.

"Those (calls to spoil votes) are 'suara nakal' (mischievous voices) by irresponsible parties trying to poison the minds of the people.

"Where were they before the election? When the poll comes, they suddenly appear and start poisoning the people's minds," Hashim was quoted as saying in an interview with TV9's Nasi Lemak Kopi ‘O’ (NLKO) with the topic “Boleh Saya Bantu: Menjelang PRU-14” (Can I Help: Approaching GE14) at Seri Pentas today.

"Malaysia is a democratic country, and hence, the people have the right to choose who they want to vote for," he added.

His comments come amid the #UndiRosak campaign, which has gained traction on social media. The campaign's proponents are calling for people to cast spoilt votes if they favour neither BN nor Pakatan Harapan in GE14.

Hashim further said that 250,000 people will be deployed to assist the EC in GE14, for which the commission is "90 percent" prepared.

According to him, the EC would make it compulsory for all parties to station their respective agents at polling centres nationwide.

He said it was disappointing that some parties failed to do so in the last general election.

"Some 'popular' and 'big' parties also did not send their respective agents; (that's why) we want every political party to send their agents to areas the parties are contesting" Hashim added.