PKR polls: E-voting vendor denies manipulation claim - source

Summary

• The e-voting system operator for the recent PKR election denies allegations of irregularities during its divisional-level polls.

• A source says every election process is audited, so it is impossible to manipulate.

The operator of the e-voting system in the recent PKR election has denied allegations of irregularities during its divisional-level polls.

This was according to three sources - two from the party and one from the PKR elections committee.

"In the PKR central leadership council (MPP) meeting on Wednesday, the vendor explained how the e-voting system works. The auditing company also provided an explanation.

"In general, they deny there was any element of malpractice or manipulation on their part," one source told Malaysiakini.

On Wednesday, PKR’s top leadership held an emergency meeting to discuss allegations of irregularities during the party polls.

The meeting was held for approximately three hours at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's official residence, Seri Perdana, in Putrajaya.

Another elections committee source told Malaysiakini that no one could manipulate the results.

“The party's supreme council appoints the elections committee. System vendors are appointed by the committee and certified by the supreme council. Auditors are also appointed by the supreme council.

“Last year, the audit team was appointed after voting and the results were announced.

“This time, every process is audited. This includes when the system was developed, during the election process, counting and confirming the results,” the source said.

‘Body without head’

PKR conducted its divisional-level elections on April 11, with the final round taking place on April 20.

However, the process has been marred by various reports of alleged irregularities, including “oddities” which saw certain factions sweeping the division-level committee posts but their leaders losing.

With the trend spreading across many divisions, the situation has been dubbed by some as the “body without a head” phenomenon.

Some of the notable candidates who lost the division chiefs’ race include Gan Ay Ling in Kangar, Bakhtiar Wan Chik in Balik Pulau, Kamri Kamaruddin in Ampang, Chua Wei Kiat in Selayang, Rodziah Ismail in Shah Alam, and Ginie Lim in Alor Gajah.

PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also lost in the race for the Setiawangsa division chief position to his challenger, director and actor Afdlin Shauki.

However, it is still unclear whether Nik Nazmi’s team also experienced the “body without a head” phenomenon.

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