KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — Alleging a spike in cases of objections towards the registration of new voters in Selangor, Bersih 2.0 today questioned if there was a ploy by unscrupulous parties to do so.

The electoral watchdog said it observed several of such cases in the state, further claiming that said objectors were simply "following instructions”.

"A group of men and women who acted as objectors were being instructed by a single person on who they objected to,” the group steering committee said in a statement.

"One newly registered voter reported her objector did not know he had objected to her registration.”

Bersih 2.0 then demanded the Elections Commission (EC) to clarify the scenario if there were indeed "hidden hands behind this flurry of voter objections”.

It also asked the EC to state the number of objections it received and the percentage of applicants who showed up for hearings upon receiving the letter of objection.

Noting that if an objector’s application did not go through, he or she will be fined RM100, Bersih 2.0 said the EC must explain enforcement mechanism in ensuring the fines were paid.

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

Bersih 2.0 said the compensation of RM100 will be paid by the objector and that it was up to the voter to pursue the matter.

Earlier today, Malay Mail Online reported one such incident in the state, involving a few ethnic Chinese Malaysians.