KUALA LUMPUR: PKR is going to great lengths to ensure that its recently concluded divisional polls are above board – it is appointing international auditors to look into complaints of irregularities.
“If there is a complaint, we will take it up. Now, international auditors are checking if there’s any validity in the complaints,” said party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is also the Prime Minister, brushed off claims of injustice in the elections.
“Why do you think it’s not just? Because there’s a complaint, then it’s not just?
“Just because somebody complains, it’s not just?
“No. The question should be reasonable and not prejudicial,” he told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony of the Rumah Belia Madani and Rumah Mampu Milik Mukim Batu here yesterday.
A number of top candidates have submitted appeals to the election committee following concerns over the results and the voting process.
Earlier, party election committee chairperson Dr Zaliha Mustafa said such complaints should be lodged only through official channels.
She said all complaints would be reviewed by the Objections and Complaints Committee.
She also announced that fresh elections for four divisions – Jempol, Selayang, Silam and Semporna – would be held on May 1.
In the divisional polls, several prominent figures, including ministers and MPs, lost their positions.
Among those who failed to retain or win posts were Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who lost the Setiawangsa division chief post; Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim, who lost the contest for the Hang Tuah Jaya division deputy chief; Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew who lost the Kota Kinabalu division chief post; and Deputy National Unity Minister K. Saraswathy, who lost the Bukit Bintang division chief contest.
Meanwhile, Anwar also said Malaysia had sent fresh appeals for an extension of Myanmar’s post-quake ceasefire period which ends on April 30.
The appeal was sent to both the chairman of Myanmar’s State Administration Council, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, and the Myanmar National Unity Government prime minister Mahn Win Khaing Than.
