The mad dash to the finish begins today in PKR, as 57 divisions are expected to step up and make their choices in this final weekend of party divisional polls.

This last lap is especially pivotal for the vice-presidential race, that could see changes in the third and fourth spots in the event of a major swing in support for the underdogs.

azlan Members in at least 15 divisions in Johor, Selangor and Sarawak will cast their ballots in the historic party elections which started at 10am.

Holding their annual general meetings in Selangor today are Kelana Jaya, Puchong, Serdang, Sabak Bernam, Sungai Besar and Hulu Selangor, while in Johor it will be Tenggara, Johor Bahru and Pulai.

In Sarawak, six divisions will meet ,Lawas, Hulu Rajang, Mambong, Santubong, Bandar Kuching and Batang Lupar.

All three states, plus Sabah, will hold the last batch of divisional meetings tomorrow, with at least 37 divisions scheduled to meet and cast their ballots.

Sarawak will be a hive of activity on Sunday, with 13 divisions going to the ballot box, including Kanowit, Sibu, Selangau, Sibuti, Sarikei, Lubok Antu, Kota Samarahan, Batang Sadong, Serian, Tanjong Manis, Mukah, Baram and Saratok.

No votes are expected out of Kapit, Limbang and Igan despite also meeting tomorrow, as the three divisions are either at the pro-tem stage or are yet to be formalised.

Johor will also be quite busy tomorrow, with the Gelang Patah, Kulai, Pontian, Tebrau, Kota Tinggi and Pasir Gudang divisions scheduled to meet, while another seven – Sekijang, Labis, Pagoh, Pengerang, Tanjong Piai, Ayer Hitam and Mersing – will also not have any votes as they are either still at pro-tem stage or yet to be formalised.

The last seven divisions in Selangor – Tanjong Karang, Kuala Selangor, Selayang, Gombak, Ampang, Pandan and Hulu Langat – will go up to the polls tomorrow, while Kimanis will round off the list for Sabah the same day.

Hope for veep hopefuls

As it stands, there is still a mathematical chance for four candidates to claw their way up the ranks and become one of the four elected vice-presidents at the week's end.

Leading the challenge is Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan with, 5,288 votes in fifth place ahead of rival Xavier Jayakumar,sitting in sixth with 4,840 already in the bag.

Not far behind are Yahya Sahri, who has 4,781 votes after three weeks of polling and out-going vice-president R Sivarasa who earned 4,690 votes supporting his bid.

azlan The odds, however are decidedly high, with the difference in votes for Gobalakrishnan and fourth-placed Mansor Othman going well beyond the 2,000 mark.

Mansor, a deputy Chief Minister of Penang, currently commands 7,448 votes behind PKR elections director Fuziah Salleh, who has the third highest tally with 7,878 votes.

While Gobalakrishnan currently has the best shot at clinching a vice-presidential seat, he will have to get a large bloc of voters going his way while at the same time hope that the tally remains unchanged for Mansor.

This year’s PKR polls is the first time in Malaysian political history where every party member has the power to decide who will hold the mantle of leadership for the next three years.

This much-touted  maiden attempt has, however, been marred with allegations of fraud and 'gangsterism', with at least two cases of alleged assaults reports lodged.

The turnout among members has also been dismal with party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution revealing that the nationwide average stood at just 8.4 percent out of their 400,000 registered members.

The official results of the polls is expected to be announced when the party holds its national congress in Shah Alam on Nov 27-28.