Two aspiring candidates claim names missing from PKR membership list

 

Two aspiring candidates in the PKR polls have complained that their names went missing from the membership list.

A Vethamoorthy, who had wanted to contest as the Sungai Siput PKR chief, said he could not file his nomination after he was informed that he was no longer a PKR member.

Vethamoorthy said he has been a PKR member since 2013.

"I went to the nomination centre in Perak on Saturday to file my nomination as a division chief.

"However, I was told that I was not qualified to contest as I was no longer a party member. I have brought the matter to the state PKR leadership," he told Malaysiakini.

Meanwhile, a woman who had accused Sungai Siput MP S Kesavan of sexual harassment claimed her name had also disappeared from the membership list.

"I found out that my name had disappeared from the membership list after I tried to make an online application (for nomination) for the Sungai Siput PKR chief," she said.

Malaysiakini is withholding the woman's name pending the sexual harassment case. Kesavan had denied the sexual harassment allegation.

The woman said she registered as a lifetime PKR member in 2018 and was formerly also the Sungai Siput PKR treasurer.

"Therefore, it is impossible that my membership just disappeared," she added.

The woman also said she has brought the matter to the central PKR leadership, including party president Anwar Ibrahim.

"He (Anwar) promised to raise the matter with the election committee," she said.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim

‘Election committee will check’

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, when contacted, confirmed receiving the complaints.

"This case as well as a number of complaints will be referred to the membership department to verify their membership status.

"The election committee will check every complaint to determine if they are still members or not," he said.

The PKR election for the 2022 to 2025 term will take place next month. Some 1.2 million members are expected to vote in a physical-online hybrid system. - Mkini