Fraud allegations mar PKR polls' early results

PETALING JAYA - The early results of PKR polls which show the party's deputy president Azmin Ali in the lead is subject to change following allegations of electoral fraud.

As investigations into claims of ballot paper-tampering at the Batang Sadong branch in Sarawak intensify, party election director Datuk Johari Abdul described early results posted online as "tentative" because of several discrepancies at the branch's meeting last week.

The contest for the party's deputy presidency is a hot topic among observers.

As of now, Azmin is leading with 5,111 votes, followed by outgoing secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail with 2,322 votes and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, 2,228 votes.

PKR Youth leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, had launched an open attack against Azmin alleging his involvement in vote-rigging at the branch. Subsequently, the results were annulled and its operations suspended.

Also suspended were several of its leaders.

An individual who was appointed to monitor the electoral process had also been barred from participating in the polls.

Johari said investigations had discovered that the number of ballot papers obtained exceeded the number of attendees to the meeting.

The branch has 564 members.