Incumbent PKR deputy president Azmin Ali is leading in the race for the number two post in early rounds of party polls.

 

According to party polls committee sources, Azmin has garnered 5,111 votes after polling in Sarawak, Malacca, Johor, Pahang and Terengganu.

 

This does not include seven divisions in Terengganu, Pahang and Malacca, where voting has been postponed.

                                   

Tipped to retain his post, Azmin has pulled ahead of key challengers, party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution and Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, who are neck and neck with 2,322 and 2,228 votes respectively.

 

The deputy president’s post is the highest contested post this round as incumbent president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail retained her post uncontested after PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim pulled out of the race for president.

 

However the results come in amid complaints by some PKR members that ballot papers were “poorly-designed” and require voters to memorise up to 78 candidate numbers for the central leadership polls.

 

“For example, for 'deputy president' there is a blank spot next to it and we have to fill in the candidate’s number,” Johor Bahru division member Yusuf Rahmat, who voted for the first time, said when contacted.

 

“So people were passing out pamphlets with a list of numbers of candidates from their camps, and we end up just copying those numbers but even the pamphlets don't identify who the numbers correspond to. So it is all ‘tikam-tikam’ (stab in the dark).”

 

Malaysiakini also understands that a complaint has been lodged with the polls committee over irregularities in the Batang Sadong division polling and tallying.

 

The allegations were made in a lengthy complaint with witness testimonies submitted to the committee and sighted by Malaysiakini . The allegations include:

  • Ballot boxes left unattended after polling ceased;
  • Ballot boxes tampered before tallying started; and
  • Ballot stuffing, with the number of ballot papers not corresponding with the number of voters.
“All unfolded ballot papers were found to be for one particular candidate,” the complaint, received by the committee yesterday, read.

 

Nurul leads in veep race

           

Meanwhile, for vice-presidency, incumbent Nurul Izzah Anwar tops the list in the crowded race with 5,610 votes.

 

She is trailed by PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli who received 5,018 votes. The duo has openly declared that they are in an electoral pact with Saifuddin.

 

They are among 10 who are vying for four elected vice-president positions. The others are:

  • Tian Chua (incumbent vice president, Batu MP) - 4,833 votes;
  • Baru Bian (Sarawak chief) - 4,417 votes;
  • Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin (outgoing Youth chief, Bukit Katil MP) - 3,491 votes;
  • Dr Xavier Jayakumar (Seri Andalas assemblyperson) - 3,410 votes;
  • Lee Chin Cheh (former Kajang assemblyperson) - 2,330 votes;
  • Mustaffa Kamil Ayub (former Perak chief) - 2,040 votes;
  • Fuziah Salleh (incumbent vice president, Kuantan MP) - 2,004 votes
  • Yahya Saari (central committee member) - 1,027 votes.
In the youth wing, Batu Caves assemblyperson Amirudin Shaari, aligned to Azmin Ali, leads with 777 votes, slightly head of Selangor deputy speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (739 votes), who is seen to be part of Saifuddin's bloc.

 

The third candidate, incumbent Negri Sembilan youth chief Nazree Yunus, who is believed to be in Khalid's camp, trails closely at 720 votes.

 

Meanwhile, defending Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin is leading Selangor executive councillor Rodziah Ismail by about 700 votes. Zuraida bagged 1,789 votes while Rodziah has 1,106.

 

The polls are over three weekends, from April 26 to May 11, and results will be announced on May 13.

It is still too early to call the polls as the bulk of party members have yet to vote.

The voting schedule by states is as follow:

April 26 - Sarawak, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang

April 27 - Sarawak, Johor and Malacca

May 3 - Sabah, Kedah and Perlis

May 4 - Sabah, Perak and Pulau Pinang

May 10 - Federal territories, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan

May 11 - Selangor