PKR POLLS | Incumbent PKR deputy president Azmin Ali regrets the occurrences of missing votes in the ongoing party elections, saying his lead against contender Rafizi Ramli would be a lot bigger if not for them.

With voting in Peninsular Malaysia officially over and only with Sabah and Sarawak still to go, he has garnered 46,944 votes, leading Rafizi by a slim 1,659 majority. This is according to an unofficial tally by Malaysiakini. 

Azmin lamented that this majority could possibly be “much bigger”.

“In Ampang alone, 1,100 votes were missing. In my own division (Gombak), 800 votes were missing.

“You just imagine, if these votes are counted, and in an open manner, certainly my margin is much bigger than what I have secured at present.

“But let them (the central election committee or JPP) decide and investigate (this),” he said when asked by the media after closing the Anti-Corruption Summit 2018 in Kuala Lumpur today.

Aside from Ampang and Gombak, the election has also seen missing votes in Malacca and Negeri Sembilan. 

These divisions will now require re-elections on Nov 11. 

Hopes process will be transparent

Azmin said he was confident in getting sufficient support from Sabah and Sarawak PKR members but hoped the JPP would be able to ensure smooth polls there.

“I hope the process will be very transparent, and the voters and members will come out and vote peacefully.

“The JPP must ensure all facilities must be provided to ensure a smooth process of elections,” he said.

JPP chief Rashid Din was previously quoted as saying that his team has “learned from mistakes” and would ensure no further problems in the coming two state elections.

Sabah and Sarawak together make up nearly a quarter of the PKR membership and could provide a decisive outcome in the PKR deputy president's race.

Sabah, comprising 17.82 percent of the PKR membership, is the second largest member base after Selangor which is Azmin's base and had helped put him ahead in the contest.

Sabah will vote on Nov 3 and 4 while Sarawak, which contributes 5.33 percent of the party's membership, will vote on Nov 10.