Internal probe clears PKR election staff of violations

An internal investigation has ruled out violations on the part of PKR's central election committee staff with regard to the ongoing party leadership elections.

Committee chief Rashid Din said the probe was carried out following the arrest of two branch-level election officials in Kedah over suspicion of money politics.

"The committee is open to cooperating with all parties to ensure the party elections are carried out with integrity, transparency and in accordance with the rules and ethics.

"We have also conducted an internal probe and we would like to declare that so far none of our officers has been found to be involved in activities that violated the rules and ethics of the party elections," Rashid told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya this morning.

On Sunday, it was reported that MACC had obtained a six-day remand order against the two individuals.

Earlier, Malaysiakini reported that the two were arrested on suspicion of soliciting bribes in relation to a PKR branch-level election in Kedah.

According to a source, the duo had allegedly asked for a bribe of RM20,000 from an aspiring contender in the election.

The suspects told the man they had to drop his name from the list of candidates for an undisclosed reason but would retain his name if he paid the amount.

Meanwhile, Rashid said the arrest would not affect the ongoing party elections as their replacements have been identified.

"The committee will continue monitoring all of our officers involved in the election process starting this weekend until the last day on Oct 28," he stressed.

Rashid also clarified while it was previously announced that the election would commence on Sept 14, it was postponed as there were issues to be resolved in relation to the party's membership list.

"We needed some extra time so the date has been changed (to this weekend)," he said.

The nationwide elections for PKR's branch and national leaders will begin in Penang on Saturday, with 55,132 members from 13 divisions casting their votes for 950 candidates at various levels.

This would be followed by voting in Kedah, Perlis and Perak.

The results are expected to be announced in November, during PKR's annual congress. - Mkini