The Election Commission recently said 4.9 million eligible voters -- mainly young people between 21 and 35 years old -- had not signed up on electoral rolls. There are now 10.3 million registered voters in this nation of 26 million people.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Monday that unregistered voters were "depriving themselves of the right to determine who is worthy to govern our country."

"We must fight this public apathy," Najib told reporters. "We do not want this portion of our society to be excluded from the democratic process."

Political parties such as the ruling United Malays National Organization have stepped up efforts to encourage members to register, Najib said, adding that the government might also consider suggestions such as automatic registration for people who turn 21.

Najib noted that though the number of unregistered voters remains high, Malaysia records satisfactory voter turnout in elections, breaching 80 percent in some constituencies.

His comments come amid mounting speculation that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will call for national polls by early 2008. Abdullah's ruling coalition won a landslide victory in 2004 general elections, and its current mandate expires in mid-2009.

In past years, general elections have often been held more than several months before the government's five-year term expires.

Abdullah has played down the rumors, but many government and opposition officials have begun preparing for polls to avoid being caught off-guard.

Electoral officials have advised people not to delay registering as voters, because it takes three months after they sign up before their names can appear on electoral rolls. Voters can register at numerous locations, including more than 600 post offices nationwide.