Sarawak PKR lodges report with MACC over irregularities in Julau branch membership list

KUCHING: Sarawak PKR has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on the alleged irregularities in the membership list of a branch in the state.

State PKR information chief Vernon Kedit said the report centred on the "irregularities and illegalities" in the Julau branch, in the Sarikei division of Sarawak, as outlined in his statutory declaration (SD) dated Oct 17.

The SD stated that 1,310 individuals were registered without their knowledge or consent as they never intended to join the party, 65 were re-registered although they were already members and 71 registered twice in different branches.

"We would like to request the MACC to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter to ascertain if there was any abuse or misuse of power by certain party leaders in covering up the irregularities and illegalities stated in my SD as our party's image and credibility has now come under public scrutiny," he told reporters outside the state MACC office here on Thursday (Oct 25) before going in to lodge the report.

He was accompanied by state PKR leaders and branch chiefs, including vice-chairman See Chee How and secretary Nicholas Bawin.

Vernon said he was submitting his SD to MACC to take up the matter further.

Asked whether he was pinpointing any party leaders in the report, he said it was a general report.

"It is up to MACC to investigate and dig deeper into the matter. We let MACC do their work," he said.

Meanwhile, Bawin said PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution was reported saying on Tuesday (Oct 23) that all membership lists were finalised and that the state PKR's complaints had exceeded the objection period.

"We are left with no choice but to bring this matter to MACC as the irregularities and illegalities which we have been raising within party channels have been ignored," he said.