PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has taken a slender lead over challenger Rafizi Ramli in the first round of party polls in Sabah today, which saw trouble breaking out between supporters of the two leaders in the Keningau division.

Unofficial results from voting in 12 divisions in Sabah today showed incumbent Azmin leading by a mere 342 votes after winning 5,115 votes compared with Rafizi’s 4,773 votes.

Thirteen more divisions in Sabah will vote tomorrow. A win for either candidate in Sabah is a clear indication of who will take the deputy president’s post.

While the election process has gone smoothly in all 12 divisions, trouble, however, broke out in Keningau.

A short video clip that has gone viral showed Rafizi supporters trying to barge into the Keningau polling centre to protect the former Pandan MP, who appeared to be cornered by a loud crowd.

Rafizi, meanwhile, was quoted as saying in Malaysiakini that he was attacked in Keningau.

He said a man had approached him from behind and attempted to assault him but only managed to graze his head as he was leaving the Keningau polling centre about 4pm.

“I was surrounded by a group of people so he could not reach me that much. He hit me on the head a bit but no injury. It happened in front of everyone, including police officers.

“I will lodge a police report against him,” he reportedly said.

Meanwhile, The Malaysian Insight learned that Azmin had won in the Tawau, Kalabakan, Libaran, Sandakan, Sepanggar and Beaufort divisions.

Rafizi, meanwhile, had won in Kota Kinabalu, Batu Sapi, Tuaran and Sipitang.

Going into the Sabah polls today, Azmin led Rafizi by 1,410 votes, following elections in Peninsular Malaysia.

The PKR polls will come to an end on November 10, with 29 divisions in Sarawak voting. Apart from that, seven divisions from three other states will also cast their votes the next day. – November 3, 2018.

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