PKR incumbent deputy president Azmin Ali said he was firmly against electoral fraud and urged that stern action be taken against those involved.

Azmin was referring to the party central election committee's recent suspension of the Batang Sadong division in Sarawak following complaints of fraud in last week’s voting.

"When our Election Committee receives complaints from anyone, we initiate immediate probe and action is taken swiftly against any individual, including the election officers," Azmin said after meeting with about 100 party members in Seberang Jaya today.

Election Committee chairperson Johari Abdul had earlier said there was solid evidence to prove electoral fraud, revealing that a polling officer has been “suspended” because he had been “compromised” by a contesting candidate.

But Johari had refused to reveal the candidate who had allegedly “compromised” the officer.

The complaint was brought against Azmin by PKR member Badrul Hisham Shaharin who claimed that the former had a hand in manipulating votes in the Batang Sadong division and thus urged that Azmin be disqualified from the contest.

When asked, Azmin declined to speculate if there was a conspiracy to force him out of the race and end his bid to defend his deputy president’s post.

Leading in early polling

Azmin, a veteran PKR leader since 1999 when the party was formed, is leading the race against key challengers, Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and incumbent secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Azmin has bagged 5,111 votes, ahead of Khalid (2,288) and Saifuddin (2,322).   

He said party members have indicated their strong support for his candidacy based on his track record and service to the party over the last 15 years.

"Any attempt to discredit my ability will certainly be rejected by members," said the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman and Gombak MP.

"They have seen me in action and they know that I totally reject money politics," he added.

On whether he is confident of winning the polls, Azmin replied he believed in the wisdom of party members.

"They should know who to vote for the sake of the party. So far, Alhamdulliah," he quipped.

Name not on the list

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Sungai Petani branch Youth election was today marred by a missing name in the list of its candidates.

Supporters of S Arvind Kumar - a candidate for the post of Youth chief - began protesting when his name was not in the list on the grounds that he was ineligible to contest.

The protest began when Arvind arrived at the polling station in the Orang Ramai Seri Wangi Hall today.

"I was not officially notified on my ineligibility to contest. What hurt me most was my involvement in an intense campaigning over the past one week.

"I was understandably shocked when informed that my name was not in the list of candidates," he said.