DR Afif Bahardin is planning a motion at the PKR national congress, which starts on Friday, to urge a review of the voting process that has been problematic since polling began in Kedah and Penang in September.

The incumbent PKR Youth deputy chief said he and other leaders have discussed tabling the motion, for the consideration of the central leadership.

The party needs to review its voting process and determine whether it wants to continue with the “direct democracy” concept in the future, he said.

Currently, all ordinary PKR members – numbering some 842,000 – are eligible to vote for their state and central leaders. In other parties, only delegates vote.

“Does the concept truly reflect the voice of the majority of PKR members and grassroots?” said Dr Afif.

“I think PKR needs to be honest and fair when relooking this matter. I fear that PKR will face a tough time surviving and defending our multiracial party, which represents all Malaysians.

“It is now widely known that some members have never contributed to the party. They never campaigned for PKR in general elections, but now, they are voting to elect party leaders. This exposes the party polls to manipulation,” he told reporters at the state assembly building.

Dr Afif, who is Seberang Jaya assemblyman, said PKR’s reputation among the people has been tarnished due to the numerous issues plaguing the party elections.

PKR introduced e-voting for the first time this year, and problems with the system have cropped up in almost every state.

Among them were technical glitches and poor internet connection, and there have been claims of hacking. Several states have been forced to carry out a revote.

There are also allegations of irregularities in the party’s membership and electoral rolls, with the Julau division in Sarawak seeing the number of members surging from about 600 to 13,000 in June itself.

PKR has allowed new members to vote in this year’s party elections. Previously, members who had been with the party for less than a year were not allowed to vote.

Dr Afif said the whole concept is the problem, and not just the e-voting system.

“Direct voting, the nomination process and membership approvals… they all should be reviewed.

“We are a government party now. For PKR to stay relevant and survive, we have to reform the party’s election process.

“If we’ve made mistakes, we must admit them and move forward by doing the right thing.”

PKR’s central election committee has yet to announce the official results of the party polls last weekend.

Unofficial results as of yesterday put incumbent deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali in the lead over rival Rafizi Ramli.

Candidates aligned with Azmin, namely Zuraida Kamaruddin, Chua Tian Chang, or better known as Tian Chua, and Dr Xavier Jayakumar, are also ahead in the race for the posts of vice-presidents.

Dr Afif himself is in the lead for the Youth wing’s top post. – November 12, 2018.