THE Kuala Selangor, Pensiangan and Tawau divisions of PKR, each with more than 10,000 members, could well decide who will be the party No. 2.

The three divisions are among the last 10 branches to hold the party elections. Voting continues in Pensiangan, while Kuala Selangor and Tawau are holding a re-poll.

In Pensiangan, many members did not get to vote the first time around due to overcrowding at the polling station and internet problems. The Kuala Selangor revote was called after the discovery of a telecommunications jammer on the original polling day derailed the voting process.

As it stands, incumbent Mohamed Azmin Ali is leading his rival, Rafizi Ramli.

“These three divisions will be the deciding factor. Kuala Selangor is a must-watch division. The rivalry between the two camps is so intense that leaders from both sides have visited these divisions to canvass support,” said political analyst Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mokhtar.

“So, it is not surprising that Azmin and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari visited Kuala Selangor,” he said, referring to their attendance at an event there on Friday.

Razlan Jalaluddin, who is vying for a spot on the PKR leadership council, said Azmin is the favourite in Kuala Selangor.

“I am sure Azmin has the support here, as he has proven himself, as former Selangor menteri besar, as someone who can deliver the goods.

“I estimate about 5,000 members from this division will come out to vote,” said the Azmin supporter.

Kuala Selangor is considered to be Azmin’s stronghold, and he has won the Selangor leg of the party polls.

Rafizi, meanwhile, is said to have an advantage in Pensiangan due to the support delivered by Raymond Ahuar, who is contesting the posts of division chief and PKR Youth deputy chief.

“Thousand of our supporters could not vote last weekend, and I am sure Pensiangan will give its vote to Rafizi,” said Raymond.

The tally showed that Rafizi had won the division on November 4, before the voting period was cut short due to security concerns.

In Tawau, the rivals are said to be of equal strength.

Apart from these three divisions, six divisions in Malacca and one in Negri Sembilan will also revote today.

Rafizi previously claimed that he had won Malacca and Negri Sembilan.

The unofficial count in Negri Sembilan showed Rafizi getting 52% of the vote, while in Malacca, the results from six divisions showed that he received 55% support.

The six branches in Malacca and Negri Sembilan’s Jelebu have a combined total of 2,000 missing e-ballots, which are split between the two camps.

Universiti Malaya political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi had said these last branches could determine the polls outcome and were in Rafizi’s favour, as those who did not get to vote are said to be his supporters.

“In Malacca, I understand that the e-votes of Rafizi’s supporters went missing,” he said, referring to internet issues that plagued the polling process in some divisions. – November 11, 2018.