KLANG: PKR’s Central Election Committee (JPP) needs to reassess the party’s voting procedures and mechanism before electing the party’s top leadership, according to Selangor PKR deputy chairman Datuk Borhan Aman Shah.
Borhan emphasised the importance of preventing any disputes or dissent following the elections.
"When someone loses in the party polls, they can turn around and dispute the results," said Borhan.
All top positions, except the president and deputy president posts, are set to be contested at the party’s national convention expected next month.
Borhan referenced the dissatisfaction expressed by some candidates defeated in the recently concluded division polls and stressed that it should not recur during the PKR national leadership election.
"So, the JPP must prove the efficacy of the party polling system and address any weaknesses if they exist," he said.
Several incumbent division leaders, including elected representatives, failed to retain their positions.
According to party sources, less than three percent of party members participated in physical voting, with the majority voting online through PKR’s ADIL application.
"Both online and physical voting have their pros and cons. Physical voting allows you to witness the counting firsthand but is more costly than online polling," said Borhan.
He added that the online voting system is cheaper, requires no mobilisation of members, and prevents conflicts at polling centers.
Meanwhile, Sentosa assemblyman Gunaraj George pointed out that ministers, deputy ministers, MPs, and assemblymen lost in the division polls not due to weakness.
"They lost because they became too comfortable, and holding positions gave them a false sense of security," said Gunaraj, who retained his division chief position with 4,643 votes against his opponent M. Mahendran’s 1,615 votes.
He noted that some incumbents wrongly assumed victory was assured and lost touch with the grassroots.
"My team and I work very hard and are constantly on the ground, listening to and addressing the people’s needs," said Gunaraj.
He stressed that nothing is permanent and that if grassroots members are unhappy, titles and positions mean nothing.
"The people decide your future. You have to earn it every step of the way," he added.
Meanwhile, PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh stated that the party’s leadership council will hold an emergency meeting on April 23 to discuss the outcome of the division polls.
