The absence of polling agents representing the independent candidate in the Batu Talam by-election's polling day tomorrow is worrying, said an election watchdog.

"Without the presence of agents representing all parties, the vote-counting process will be exposed to allegations of frauds and malpractice," the Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel) chief Abdul Malek Hussin told malaysiakini.

He said the roles of the polling agents are to monitor the vote-counting process and their signatures are required on the election results papers as a form of endorsement.

He pointed out although the election result is legitimate without such endorsement from all parties, it could be challenged by certain quarters on this aspect.

Confidence for EC

The Election Commission (EC) has earlier said there will be 12 polling stations and 23 polling booths to be set up tomorrow.

The Batu Talam by-election is a straight fight between Barisan Nasional's Abdul Aziz Mat Kiram, 47, and independent candidate, 22-year-old trader Ng Chee Pang.

Met in Batu Talam yesterday, Chee Pang's campaign manager and father Kwi Ling confirmed they will not appoint any polling agents to monitor the vote-counting.

"We trust the EC, all these works should be left to the EC. It is better still if the BN is barred from having their polling agents during the vote-counting," he told malaysiakini.

When asked whether he was facing the shortage of manpower to be appointed as polling agents, Kwi Ling reiterated the public should have confidence in the EC.

The state constituency has 10,525 registered voters.