FORMER PKR vice president Rafizi Ramli has won the party’s deputy presidency after his opponent, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail conceded the race with only 57,618 votes to his name.

At 9.30pm, Rafizi was leading with 78,710 votes, giving him an unassailable 21,092-margin lead, despite some 5,000 “doubtful” votes.

Rafizi won in 13 of the party’s 22 divisions.

“Even though the results are not yet official, I would like to convey my congratulations to Rafizi, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Chang Lih Kang and other winners,” Saifuddin said in an online post.

Three of Rafizi’s four Ayuh Malaysia teammates running for the party’s four vice-presidencies are also in the lead.

They are Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang. 

This is Rafizi’s second attempt at the number two post in PKR after he lost to former deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali in 2019.

The division elections, meanwhile, saw a few upsets.

In Hang Tuah Jaya, former vice-president Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin lost the top spot to Mohd Rafee Ibrahim after winning 379 votes compared to his opponent’s 488.

In Sungei Petani, party whip Johari Abdul lost the division chief’s post to Ooi Tze Min after polling 464 votes to the latter’s 567.

Another MP that lost the division chief’s post was Sekijang MP Natrah Ismail (93 votes) who lost to Yoong Thau (318).

Earlier today, PKR strategic communications director Fahmi Fadzil told Bernama that the party elections has a voter turnout of just 13.5%.

He said the voter turnout at Pensiangan hit 45%.

Fahmi said another factor for the low voter turnout was that the posts in 65 of the 222 divisions were won uncontested.