PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail must bear full responsibility for the chaotic first day of party elections in Kedah and Penang, said Dr Afif Bahardin.

The outgoing Youth deputy chief last night said the e-voting system, used for the first time in the PKR polls, must also be reviewed.

His remarks followed the central election committee’s decision to nullify the Kedah results, after nine out of 15 divisions could not proceed with the system.

Although problems also cropped up in Penang, the committee decided to accept the state’s results, upsetting members who wanted them declared invalid.

The disastrous first day of the polls has led to the postponement of voting in Perlis and Perak, originally slated for today, and in Negri Sembilan and Malacca (September 29). The new dates have not yet been set.

Dr Afif, who is gunning for the Youth top post, said yesterday’s affair was a humiliation for PKR.

It was clear that the election committee was unprepared to handle the polls using the e-voting system, he said.

“We urge the secretary-general to take full responsibility for the voting process today (yesterday).

“The voting process is not just the committee’s responsibility. The secretary-general’s office, too, is responsible for ensuring voters’ registration is transparent and efficient, to enable them to cast their ballots,” he told a press conference in Seberang Jaya.

He cited the case of incumbent Permatang Pauh division chief Amir Ghazali, who found that he could not vote because his name was not on the list.

Amir, who joined PKR in 1998, is a well-known grassroots figure in Penang politics.

“Amir was just one of many who faced the same problem. This should not solely be the election committee’s responsibility. It is also the secretary-general’s responsibility,” said Dr Afif.

“He (Saifuddin Nasution) has to bear full responsibility and explain to party members how this happened.”

He urged PKR members to demand a review of the e-voting system.

“Worse (than its inefficiency), we fear the system may not be transparent, causing members to doubt the results.

“Although the results in Penang have been accepted, with deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali in the lead, we want transparency. This system is open to manipulation.

“The committee and secretary-general’s office need to take full responsibility and explain what happened.”

Saifuddin Nasution could not be reached for comments last night.

Asked if he thought there were elements of corruption in the party polls, Dr Afif said the main issue is the voting system.

He said he believes PKR divisions will write to the election committee, objecting to the Penang results.

Earlier, Dr Afif had to calm down members angered by the announcement that the committee would not cancel the state’s results.

Committee secretary Ismail Yusop told the upset members to write in their objections. – September 23, 2018.