Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has claimed that he was prevented by opposition supporters from visiting a Barisan Nasional election booth (pondok panas) in Ijok this morning.

According to him, the incident took place outside the Jaya Setia polling station, when he has to pass by the opposition's booth to reach the BN booth.

"They blocked me at the road. This should not have happened if they respect the laws in this country and democracy," he alleged at a press conference in Ijok this morning.

"Why did they stop me?" he asked, adding that everything was however under control after police intervention.

Najib was accompanied by Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam and Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin during the visit.

There were also a number of police outriders and at least 10 cars of security personnel escort.

'Kaki gaduh'

Najib claimed the group who he branded as kaki gaduh (fighter) - that stopped him was wearing opposition PKR T-shirts.

He, however, could not confirm the number of people in the group.

Asked why he thought he was blocked, Najib replied: "Maybe they just want to fight but we are not here for fighting, what we want is to win this election."

According to his aide, Najib has to use another road to get to the BN polling booth after he was stopped but on his way out, he was again stopped by the group.

"They used big flower pots to block us and the stand-off lasted for about 10 minutes," said the aide.

In an immediate reaction, Ahmad Alang, who is the opposition's spokesperson in Jaya Setia denied Najib's allegation.

"We didn't stop them. It was just his (Najib's) claim," he told malaysiakini when met in Jaya Setia.

The deputy premier, who is leading the BN charge in Ijok, said his visits to the remaining eight polling stations revealed that polling was smooth.

Allowed entry into prohibited area

Najib also expressed hope that the voters' turnout will be higher compared to the last election.

He nevertheless remained tightlipped over the majority votes that the ruling coalition is aiming to get in order to defeat its rival PKR.

"I don't want to make any speculation but the sentiment favours BN and insyallah (God's willing), we will win," he said.

Meanwhile, election watchdog Malaysians for Free and Fair Election observer Ong Boon Keong (right) said Najib was allowed to go into the prohibited area at the polling station in Pekan Berjuntai Bestari Utara.

"It is about 10 meters near the polling station, where he and (Penang Chief Minister) Koh Tsu Koon spent about 10 minutes there," according to Ong when met outside the polling station.

"Even though they are VIPs, they are not supposed to go in like everyone else as stipulated under the law," he added.