Address problems instead of getting personal, PKR polls chief told

PKR POLLS | The PKR elections committee (JPP) should address the grievances raised by Rafizi Ramli over the Julau leg of the elections instead of indulging in personal attacks, said PKR Youth chief candidate Akmal Nasir.

When contacted yesterday, Akmal said Rafizi had asked legitimate questions about the conduct of the election which had not been addressed. 

“Instead of answering Rafizi’s questions, instead of considering a re-election for Julau, he attacked Rafizi on a personal basis,” said Akmal, who is widely considered to be Rafizi’s lieutenant. 

Akmal said this when asked to respond to JPP head Rashid Din, who had told Free Malaysia Today yesterday that there will be no re-election for the Julau PKR division. 

Rafizi had alleged that the tablet computers used for the e-voting system were “tampered” with and infected with a “malware”, therefore warranting fresh polls. 

Rashid, who initially asked for the election results for Julau to be suspended, argued that the data was intact and therefore no re-election was necessary. 

He also suggested that Rafizi had failed to mobilise his supporters to vote and that the turnout during the afternoon of Nov 10 was dismal. 

“In Julau, at 1pm to 2pm, nobody came out to vote. Between 2pm and 4.30pm, only 20 plus people came to vote.

“In Pensiangan, even at 7pm, about 500 people came to vote. That is why we needed to re-do the election.

“But Rafizi is not making noise about Pensiangan, because he won with a big margin there.

“This is what people call sour grapes. All these are sour grapes,” Rashid said.

Showing 'true colours'

Akmal said the JPP head's “sour grapes” remark had revealed the latter’s “true colours”. 

“At least allow the process to be over before you show who you are with. He should remain professional until the process is over,” said Akmal. 

He argued that Rafizi had cast doubt over the integrity of the election process in Julau, and the rightful thing for Rashid to do was to show evidence if the JPP disputed the claim. 

The PKR election began on Sept 22 and was held every weekend until Nov 11. It was marred by violence, vote-buying allegations, and claims that the e-voting system could be compromised, among others.

However, the party’s executive body - the politburo - had affirmed the JPP’s decision to end the process, despite Rafizi’s camp crying foul. 

The party’s new leadership line-up - one expected to be dominated by those aligned to Azmin Ali - is expected to be announced during the party’s national annual delegates congress this weekend.  - Mkini