The latest round of PKR division elections and nominations held last weekend saw party heavyweights becoming the casualties of what some say are the opening skirmishes in an all-out proxy war.

NONE The undeclared war is already claiming party heavyweights like senior Selangor executive council member Elizabeth Wong, Negri Sembilan PKR chief Kamarul Baharin Abas and vice-president Mustaffa Kamil Ayub.

Division chief hopeful Kamarul (Teluk Kemang) along with incumbents Wong (Petaling Jaya Utara) and Mustaffa (Pasir Salak) lost their bid for leadership of their respective divisions.

Wong, the Bukit Lanjan assemblyperson, garnered 161 votes, losing to Lee Chin Cheh who captured 222 votes, in a four-cornered fight.

She however claimed that Lee was a recently transferred member from neighbouring Petaling Jaya Selatan division in August this year.

Wong pointed out that this is past the June deadline for eligibility, and claims the transfer did not abide by the rules, hinting at an "inside job".

The exco member will be filing a complaint with the party's elections committee, saying she has "evidence of illegality".

Complaint ignored

Mustaffa, who lost to former division chief Osman Abdul Rahman by a close shave of 17 votes, also has an axe to grind.

He said that despite lodging an official complaint that Osman's nomination was proposed by a party member who did not pay party dues, there was no transparent investigation into the matter.

According to PKR regulations, all those who want to contest and nominate people to contest must be party members in good standing, one requirement of which is to pay all party dues.

He complained that there were no call backs and no officers sent to investigate and check the registry.

pkr kb convention saifuddin nasution "I am quite puzzled with this. What are their procedures? What is their workflow in this? Rules were made, if there are those who do not follow the rules, action must be taken," said Mustaffa when contacted today.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution ( right ), however, reiterated in a press conference at the party headquarters in Petaling Jaya today that they will investigate all reports and insisted that the troubles are 'teething problems'.

Kamarul who lost to Port Dickson assemblyperson M Ravi, was however more accepting of his loss, seeing it as the will of the members.

He even hinted via a posting on social media website Facebook last night, that he may step down as parliamentarian, seeing the vote against him as a vote of no confidence in his position as Teluk Kemang MP.

"I receive the results with an open heart and will think on what to do to make way for whomever concerned as soon as possible," he said in the posting.