PKR vice-president Xavier Jayakumar has denied receiving any warning letter from the party's PKR Complaints, Appeal and Disciplinary Committee, following complaints lodged against him, as stated in a party-linked blog earlier today.

In a statement, the Water, Land and Natural Resources minister said the statement listing his name nonetheless, is an attempt to discredit him during the party polls.

"As of 7pm today, I have not received any letter from the committee, either written, by fax, or e-mail. I utterly regret the committee's excessive and unprofessional conduct.

"How can the committee decide without conducting further checks, and giving me a chance to counter complaints against me, which was notified to me?

"To compound the matter, the committee had published the details on the 2018 PKR Polls website.

"I would like stress here that I have never received any letter, nor notification, regarding the matter from the committee. I believe this act is aimed to demonise me during the close race in the party polls," said Jayakumar.

The Kuala Langat MP added that the PKR polls this time around is more challenging as it ever had been before, as the party is now part of the Pakatan Harapan federal government.

"I believe this is done by parties using dirty tactics to tarnish my name and image. This is especially because I'm in a more 'positive' position to (defend) my vice-president position.

"I have contacted the chairperson of the commmittee, Syed Husin Ali (photo), at 4.15pm today, to seek further clarification regarding the matter, and he explained to me that to date, no warning has been presented to him, to be signed or released, on behalf of the commission," Jayakumar said.

According to him, he has voiced protest in the strongest terms possible, to PKR's top leadership, as well as the committee, regarding the matter, through an official letter.

"I have also requested the party leadership to conduct an investigation into the matter and take action to rectify the statement made in the blog."

Normal procedure

Meanwhile, in a joint statement with PKR Polls 2018 chairperson Rashid Din later, Syed Husin said the warning process was "normal".

"This is a normal process which has been going on since the beginning of the 2018 party polls. This is because the committee was set up to ensure the smooth running of the party elections, in accordance with the set rules.

"The committee convenes to study objections, complaints and appeals received, from time to time, throughout the party elections. The committee will also study all facts regarding these complaints.

"The jurisdiction of this committee is confined to accepting or rejecting an objection, complaint or appeal, or issuing reminders and warnings.

"We will only call those named in the complaints if they concern disciplinary issues, upon which they will then be referred to the party's disciplinary committee," read the statement.

Apart from Jayakumar, two others - namely Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir and Hulu Selangor MP June Leow Hsiad Hui, were also named as having been issued with warning letters.

The committee did not give reasons for issuing the letters against the trio, and merely said that the complaints of election offences against them had been accepted.

Akmal had been accused by fellow contender Richard Tan of “coaching” members on the voting day. He has since denied the allegation.

Both Jayakumar and Leow are vying for a seat on the PKR central leadership council while Akmal defended his position successfully as Johor Bahru PKR division leader in the state party polls on Sept 30.

The party polls this year, which began on Sept 22, have been riddled with technical problems and allegations of misconduct.

Internal complaints and police reports have been lodged over a number of issues including membership irregularities, phantom voters and excluded ballots.