KUALA LUMPUR: PKR leaders appear to be at loggerheads over the problematic Hulu Selangor divisional polls -- the division where a known party bigwig linked to party supremo Anwar Ibrahim and deputy presidency hopeful Azmin Ali had vied for the post of division chief. PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution today announced the party's decision to hold re-election for its nine trouble-plagued divisions including that of Hulu Selangor.
The Hulu Selangor election, which was nullified due to the alleged surplus of votes cast there, purportedly saw Anwar's former press-secretary during his time as deputy prime minister, Khalid Jaafar, defeated in a seven-cornered fight by popular local leader Nazar Yakin.
However shortly after Saifuddin's press meet, PKR election steering committee chairman, Dr Molly Cheah, has come out to question the validity of secretary-general's announcement.
Cheah, when contacted by FMT, said no decisions were made in respect to the party's Hulu Selangor annual general meeting.
"Who decided that there would be re-election there? As far as I know, I chaired the election committee meeting last night and no decision was reached with regard to Hulu Selangor," she said, adding that she was not aware that a press conference was held.
Saifuddin told a press briefing that PKR leaders had decided to hold re-elections for the nine divisions, dividing them into two categories with a separate schedule for each.
Divisions whose elections were postponed due to technical and logistical problems such as in Hulu Selangor, Petaling Jaya Selatan, Merbok, Jerai and Kuala Nerus will cast their ballots again before the party's national congress in late October.
Saifuddin said the rest of the divisions where pollings were marred by factional clashes will hold re-elections after the congress.
All's not well in PKR
Saifuddin, who is Machang MP, said while more could have been done to avoid the acrimonious electoral outcome of the nine divisions, this should not overshadow the party's success in holding a smooth polling process for the rest of its 145 divisions.
"Although the media, especially those linked to Umno and Barisan Nasional, highlighted only unpleasant incidents, it must be emphasised that such cases took place only at four divisional meetings," he said.
But the spat between Saifuddin and Cheah will likely fortify the popular view that the direct election system is undemocratic.
It will also strengthen the belief that there is a concerted effort at the highest level to slot in certain leaders to key posts as part of the "Anwar-Azmin cartel".
The loudest critic is Azmin's strongest rival, Zaid Ibrahim, who claims that there are "powerful forces" attempting to undermine his chances for the number two post.
The fact that Saifuddin held a separate press conference for only selected medias after the initial media briefing will also not help the party dispel Zaid's allegations.
Veiled attack against Zaid
During the 'exclusive' interviews with reporters, Saifuddin launched a veiled attack against Zaid for his refusal to tow the party line pertaining to PKR's blanket rule against engaging Umno-owned media.
"The party's decision is clear in boycotting Utusan Malaysia. If we are members of PKR, we must respect the decisions of the party," online news portal The Malaysian Insider quoted him.
Zaid had recently given interviews to both Utusan Malaysia and New Straits Times, saying there was an emerging "Umno culture" within PKR and despite the warning by Anwar, the PKR Federal Territories chief in an interview with another Malay daily yesterday defiantly said he will not hesitate to talk to all media including those which are Umno-owned.
Azmin Ali, the PKR vice-president and Selangor party chief, is leading in the nominations count. He has garnered 92 nominations against Zaid's 35 while the third contender, fellow vice-president Mustaffa Kamil Ayub, has received 13 nominations.
Saifuddin also said three candidates are eligible for the presidential contest, seven for deputy presidency, 27 for vice-presidency and 190 for supreme council.
The eligible candidates who wish to contest for any of the posts will have to confirm their nomination by Oct 16, he added.
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