Opposition parties and a private election watchdog complained today that Sunday's vote was not free and fair, with irregularities in the electoral roll keeping thousands of voters from the ballot box.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ruling Barisan Nasional won a landslide victory in the elections against Islamic party PAS.

The Election Commission (EC) was forced to extend voting by two hours in Selangor after discrepancies in the rolls saw names of many voters missing from the lists.

It also nullified the vote for a state seat in central Pahang and postponed polling to March 28 after a mix-up of party symbols in the ballot papers.

EC violates law

The Alliance for Reform and Democracy in Asia, a regional election monitor based in Singapore, said its team of observers received complaints ranging from missing names to claims in one state that the ruling party was busing in voters from other areas.

"We have detected irregularities that have disadvantaged the opposition. The election is not free and fair," said spokesman Gandhi Ambalam.

Tian Chua, vice-president of the National Justice Party (Keadilan), led by the wife of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, charged the polls were flawed and designed to wipe out the opposition.

He said the extension of polling hours in Selangor was "a blatant violation" of the law, and that irregularities in electoral rolls saw thousands of voters being turned away or transferred elsewhere, while Keadilan's polling agents were denied access in some areas.

"It's totally flawed and planned to destroy Keadilan and PAS. This election is not free and fair. It is fraudulent and we will discuss what's our formal action," Tian said.

Computer breakdown

Local newspapers said many furious voters in Selangor left without casting their ballots after queuing for hours to find their names missing from the roll.

Computer breakdowns also led to some polling centres opening late.

"This election is the most chaotic, inefficient and outrageous in the country's history. It is a terrible blot in Malaysia's election history," said Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP).

"What is of grave concern is that the result is a major blow to democracy because it has placed the ruling party in even greater political hegemony with probably one of the weakest opposition representations in parliament."

Abdullah, who won a resounding endorsement of his five-month rule after taking over from former premier Mahathir Mohamad, has also slammed the EC over the glitches and ordered an investigation. - AFP