Kuala Lumpur  - Malaysia's northern state of Perak was bracing for by-elections that could see high voter turnout after the controversial manner in which the national ruling coalition took control of the formerly opposition-led state.

The Election Commission has to hold by-elections for two legislative seats within 60 days after an opposition lawmaker died of a heart attack Monday and another resigned because of personal problems.

The coming votes were seen as a public referendum on the manner in which Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak took control of the state.

Perak was one of five states won by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's three-party alliance in national polls last year when the ruling National Front coalition suffered unprecedented losses but still retained control of the government with a razor-thin majority in Parliament.

However, Najib, who was expected to take over as premier next month, led the ruling coalition to claim control of the state last week after several opposition lawmakers defected.

The move caused an uproar among opposition parties after the state's royal ruler condoned the takeover and refused to agree to fresh statewide elections.

Observers and residents in and outside the state have also voiced outrage via blog entries and commentaries.

"What the government and Najib have done is making a mockery of the whole voting process," said Perak resident Lynn Goh, 31.

"At the end of the day, the people's wishes were not fulfilled," she said, adding that the move by Najib would be sure to cost the ruling coalition in future state or federal elections.

"The situation in Perak has caused anger and pain," said human rights lawyer and constitutional expert Malik Imtiaz.

"Though the [National Front] may have won the day in securing the right to govern, it must ask at what cost to itself and, more importantly, to the [people]," Imtiaz wrote in a recent commentary. "In this case, the winner does not take all."

Opposition parties have maintained that the takeover is illegal and pledged to challenge the sultan's decision and call for statewide elections, even as the ruling coalition on Tuesday elected its new state council members.

Former state chief minister Nizar Jamaluddin, who was barred entry into his office Tuesday by police, said the by-elections would give voters a chance to show their dissatisfaction with the takeover.

"I think it will result in a referendum and, judging by the overwhelming support [the voters] have given us, we will win," he told reporters. (dpa)