PKR polls: With most votes in, Azmin set to retain No 2

PETALING JAYA: Incumbent PKR deputy president Azmin Ali looks set to retain the post as he widened his lead with 12,250 votes, leaving behind his close rival Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim with more than 4,000 vote margin.

In an official result released by PKR on Monday night, the Selangor mentri besar garnered 8,123 votes followed by outgoing secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail with 6,997 votes.

The votes were tallied from 171 divisions (out of 198) nationwide. Twenty-seven divisions have been directed to conduct their elections again due to irregularities in the voting process.

They are Hulu Langat, Sabak Bernam, Sungai Besar, Subang, Klang, Selayang, Kota Raja, Kuala Selangor,  Hulu Selangor, Kapar, Setiu, Kuala Nerus, Kemaman, Dungun, Paya Besar, Nibong Tebal, Jerantut, Batang Sadong, Kapit, Pengerang, Tenggara, Tenom, Keningau, Bukit Katil, Tawau, Papar and Sg Petani.

The party has not fixed the date for the re-election of the 27 divisions. The winners of the various positions would be confirmed after the 27 divisions have completed their elections.

As for the four vice-president posts, incumbents Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and Batu MP Tian Chua are set to retain their posts, with 16,698 votes and 14,798 votes respectively.

Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, the party's chief strategist, should grab the third spot with 12,690 votes.

The battle is still on for the fourth spot between incumbent vice-president Ba'kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian and former Youth chief and Bukit Katil MP Samsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, who have 9,718 votes and 9,286 votes respectively.

The contest for the Youth wing looks a close call for now between Batu Caves assemblyman Amirudin Shari (2,139 votes) and Selangor deputy speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (2,051 votes), making it an 88-votes majority. Both are reported to be aligned to Azmin.

The third candidate, Mohd Nazree Yunus, who is aligned to Khalid, now has 1,406 votes.

For the central committee (25 posts), former Terengganu Youth chief and activist Fariz Musa is in the lead, followed by lawyer Latheefa Koya and Alor Setar MP Gooi Hsiau Leung.