PKR polls: Kuala Selangor division calls off polls

IJOK: The much anticipated PKR Kuala Selangor division election between Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam has been called off after the party election committee received numerous objections from members who cited irregularities in the manner it was carried.

 Khalid, who is also PKR Kuala Selangor Division Chief apologised on Twitter after the elections were called off.

“I apologise to all Keadilan members because of the election failure. We really need a thorough reformation.

“This complaint and action is important for us to show that Keadilan is clean when conducting its elections,” he said on Twitter.

At about 2pm on Sundary, an officer from the election committee Arsad Abu Bakar announced that the election was called off and will be postponed indefinitely.

While some claimed there were phantom voters, several others alleged there were supporters of the candidates inside the polling centre.

Following the announcement to end the election process, several angry members turned to the media to express their dissatisfaction over the manner the election was handled.

Several of them said they had given up on PKR, adding that the party had failed to uphold democratic policies.

"Before 2008, PKR had all the good qualities of a fair and balanced party but today it has sadly changed," a member said.

According to V. Bobinath, a candidate for the division's deputy youth chief post, his name was not in the candidate list inside the polling centre.

"What are they trying to prove? During the nomination day, my name was there and I when I checked outside the (polling) centre, my name was there but when inside the centre, my name mysteriously disappears," he told reporters.

Although the election was called off, Bobinath, who is an ally of Manikavasagam, said he was certain the latter was ahead in the race against Khalid.

Meanwhile, Khalid's political secretary Azman Abidin showed pictures of supporters of candidates inside the polling centre.

"Whether these people are supporters of Tan Sri (Khalid) or others, they should not be inside the polling centre to assist members in the voting process," he said.

Earlier, Manikavasagam alleged that several members were paid RM50 each to vote against him.

Showing an audio recording of a man making such an offer, Manikavasagam said he would lodge a complaint with the election committee on the matter.

Commenting on this, Khalid condemned the act and welcomed Manikavasagam to lodge a formal complaint on the issue.