PKR’s election committee has recorded almost 5,500 dubious votes – or ballots cast by individuals not registered as voters  – since the start of the party elections on September 23, said the committee’s deputy chairman Adzman Hedra.

Out of that number, only about 10% turned out to be legitimate members whose names were left out of the party’s online polling registry.

“What we are finding in this election is that there are many non-members coming out to vote. This is an unexpected trend and is strange. Why are they voting when this isn’t a general election?” Adzman asked.

“For example, we found that there were close to 1,100 dubious votes in Johor, and only 10% turned out to be party members.”

He said candidates should exercise greater responsibility in ensuring that their supporters were truly registered party members.

“This increases our burden and makes the process of voting chaotic,” said Adzman.

Dubious votes are ballots by individuals who claim to be PKR members, but whose details are not listed in the e-voting online system.

These individuals will be required to fill in a form and have their votes separated from the rest. Their votes will only be counted once the party headquarters validates their membership.

Selangor saw the highest number of dubious votes cast at 2,500, while the total number of dubious votes for the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pulau Pinang, Pahang, and Kuala Lumpur amounted to 1,800 votes, said Adzman.

Dubious votes cast in Negri Sembilan and Melaka have yet to be determined as the counting process was delayed due to a technical problem.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and several party leaders have voiced concerns over the large number of dubious votes for the party elections.

The second phase of the Selangor division polls was marred by several skirmishes between supporters of opposing candidates, and allegations by certain quarters that there were “phantom voters” present. – October 23, 2018.