INCUMBENT PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali took the lead on the first day of re-polls in Kedah PKR.

He is ahead of his rival Rafizi Ramli by 117 votes after receiving 1,148 votes and winning in six branches – Jerlun, Padang Terap, Kuala Kedah, Pendang, Sik and Baling.

Rafizi won in four branches – Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, Alor Setar and Pokok Sena – securing 1,031 votes.

Five remaining branches in Kedah will vote again tomorrow, as will Perak PKR.

Kedah has almost 50,000 PKR members but voter turnout has been extremely low. Only 21%, or 4,090, of the 19,457 members in 10 branches cast their ballots today. About 30,000 members are eligible to vote tomorrow in Merbok, Padang Serai, Jerai, Kulim and Sungai Petani.

So far, Azmin has received a total 38,723 votes to Rafizi’s 37,319 for a slim lead of 1,404 votes.

Eleven states have voted since the start of the polls on September 23. The turnout has generally been poor in every state so far.

Out of the total 320,957 members eligible to vote for their state and central leaders, only 70,505 turned up on polling day in seven states, including nine branches in Selangor, where voting began last weekend.

Polling has concluded and the results announced in Penang, Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the Federal Territories.

Polls in Selangor, where PKR has the highest number of members, will conclude on Sunday with the last six branches electing their leaders.

Malacca and Negri Sembilan members have also voted but the results have been stalled due to a technical problem in the e-voting system. – October 26, 2018.