What goes around comes around and PKR now finds itself under scrutiny by its own members over allegations of electoral irregularities in its ongoing internal polls.
Reports have surfaced of grievances linked to logistical problems, alleged vote tampering in several branches, and even a blackout in a counting centre in Sarawak.
PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had on March 8 last year declared that Pakatan Rakyat would not recognise the legitimacy of the 13th General Election (GE13) results, claiming irregularities.
He also claimed the alleged irregularities had denied Pakatan of its “rightful place” in Putrajaya and instead Barisan Nasional was returned to power as a minority government for the first time in Malaysia’s electoral history.
Among the allegations were blackouts at a few counting centres, for example in Bentong, Pahang, despite a denial by the DAP candidate Wong Tack that such an incident had contributed to his loss against MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
The same allegation has now surfaced to haunt PKR in Batang Sadong, Sarawak, in the first week of party elections.
PKR election committee chairman Datuk Joehari Abdul today confirmed that he would be flying to Batang Sadong to investigate a claim of vote tampering allegedly involving a deputy presidential candidate.
“I am not denying that there are hiccups, but it is still manageable,” Joehari told a press conference at the party headquarters.
Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) founder Badrul Hisham Shaharin had on April 27 claimed that he had photo and video evidence of vote tampering allegedly involving deputy president Azmin Ali.
Badrul Hisham, or better known as Chegu Bard, had also urged the election committee to disqualify Azmin from the deputy presidential race based on reports lodged by party workers aligned to his rival and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
Joehari, who refused to name any individual involved, also vowed “to get to the bottom of these (allegations)”.
According to The Star Online, Joehari said two Central Leadership Council (MPP) candidates who wanted to witness the vote counting process in a budget hotel in Batang Sadong had claimed that there was a delay before the door was opened by party workers in charge.
“Coincidently, there was a blackout in the hotel, but that’s the truth and not done deliberately. That’s why the MPP candidates felt unhappy and accused party workers of vote tampering and vote rigging,” he said.
In a related matter, The Malay Mail Online also quoted Joehari as saying that members in seven branches -- Setiu, Kuala Nerus, Dungun, Kemaman, Bukit Katil, Paya Besar and Jerantut -- will have to vote again on May 10 following “logistical” problems in the polls last weekend.
The PKR polls are spread over three weekends from April 26 to May 11 and six states (Sarawak, Kedah, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and Malacca) have so far completed the voting process involving some 500,000 members nationwide.
This is the second successive PKR elections conducted based on the “one member one vote" system.
The last party elections in 2010 were marred by allegations of irregularities, leading to the departure of several top leaders, including maverick politician-cum- lawyer Datuk Seri Zaid Ibrahim.
Apart from electoral irregularities, other concerns monitored by the election committee involved possible breaches of party guidelines during the campaigning period.
Joehari said “some” candidates were issued stern warnings after they came close to breaching party guidelines in their “increasingly heated” campaigns.
It was reported that the committee is investigating Azmin and outgoing secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution, who is also a deputy presidential candidate, for their public remarks levelled against rival candidates.
As it stands, PKR will risk losing its credibility if the committee fails to ensure that all concerns raised are transparently dealt with.
Even if it succeeds to convince its own supporters, critics will have a field day running down PKR for failure to walk the talk and ensure that its own elections are “free and fair”.
The Ant Daily
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