Ex-EC chief defeated in Bersatu divisional election

Former election commission chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman failed to defend his position as the Kota Bharu Bersatu chief in the party's divisional polls last Saturday.

Abdul Rashid (above) was the pro-tem Kota Bharu Bersatu chief and the party is organising its first election after its founding in 2016.

In the first-ever vote for the Bersatu branch in Kelantan's state capital, Abdul Rashid was defeated by challenger Mohamed Farid Mohamed Zawawi, who is a businessperson.

Mohamed Farid was in May appointed as a Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) council member by the Perikatan Nasional government.

Kelantan Bersatu election committee chairperson Wan Rosli Wan Daud, when contacted, confirmed that Mohamed Farid is the new Kota Bharu Bersatu leader.

"Yes, the Kota Bharu division chief position was won by Mohamed Farid," he told Malaysiakini.

He added that the position of Kota Bharu Bersatu deputy chief was won by Anuar Rajib while the new vice-chief is Ryjhan Ab Rahman.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ekhwan Mohd Hatta was elected as the new Kota Bharu Bersatu Youth leader while the new divisional head for the party's women's wing is Rozainee Mohamed.

Wan Rosli said the state election committee is still awaiting the detailed results of other positions in the division.

The defeat is a setback for Abdul Rashid, who is also seeking to defend his position as a Bersatu vice-president, a position which he is also occupying on a pro-tem basis.

The election for positions at the central level will only commence in September after divisional level polls are concluded.

Wan Rosli said in Kelantan, 12 out of 14 divisions have concluded their election.

"Only the elections for Rantau Panjang and Tumpat have been postponed due to technical problems," he added.

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