PKR vice-president Azmin Ali said he respects Zaid Ibrahim’s decision to pull out from the contest for the party deputy presidency, but predicts that he will likely be blamed for this.

“Unfortunately, I’m behind everything,” said Azmin sarcastically, on the sidelines of the Selangor state assembly sitting in Shah Alam today.

zaid azmin pkr party election 220910 Azmin was referring to repeated claims by Zaid and his supporters that certain party leaders are out to undermine the latter’s campaign.

Zaid posted a pre-dawn article in his blog today to announce his decision to quit the race along with all party posts, due to “malpractices and electoral” fraud in the ongoing party elections.

However, he did not point fingers at any individual.

In an attempt to distance himself from Zaid’s decision to quit, Azmin said the latter has the right to do so.

He also declined comment on Zaid’s claims of malpractices and electoral fraud by the party’s top brass, saying he is “not in a position” to say anything on the subject.

“It is in the best interest of the whole process to allow the secretary-general (Saifuddin Nasution) and the JPP (central elections committee) to look into these complaints and act accordingly,” Azmin said.

'Respect the members' choice'

However, Azmin said Zaid and others contesting for party positions should respect the decisions of members.

“If it is true (that Zaid has quit), that is his personal choice. Even though I see from the start of his involvement in the party that it was to be together to bring change, we should respect the decision made until today by the members, especially by Sabah two days ago.

“This is the process of democracy that should be accepted by the contesting candidates.”

According to the last official tally, Azmin leads the deputy presidency race with 4,738 votes ahead of Zaid who has 3,410 votes, after two weekend of voting by party divisions.

Another candidate Mustaffa Kamil Ayub trails at a distant third with 1,181 votes.

At the time of writing, nine divisions have yet to submit their official results list. 

Zaid was said to be hugely popular with Sabah PKR members, who voted over the weekend, but results have shown otherwise.

PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim has speculated that this is the likely reason why Zaid has decided to pull out of the contest.