PKR should review its one-member, one-vote system to apply to polls for top party posts only, said outgoing Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

“We are the only party that gives one member a vote and maybe it’s time to look at how our party polls are conducted (after the recent party polls),” said Nik Nazmi during his winding-up speech at the PKR national congress in Shah Alam today.

“Voting for the posts of president and deputy and vice presidents can be open to all members but for the other positions, we should go back to the delegates system,” said the Setiawangsa MP.

He said although voter turnout was nearly 80% in the women’s wing elections, the rule was impractical because “there’s just so many votes to count”.

Nik Nazmi, who vacated the Youth chief post today, also suggested that the party lowered the admission age of members.

“Following the suggestion to lower the voting age to 18, parties like Umno have also lowered the membership age to 16 and PAS, to age of puberty.

“We, too, should consider amending the party constitution,” said Nik Nazmi.

Meanwhile, outgoing Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin called on members to close ranks following the party’s fractious elections.

“Yesterday, we saw an interesting debate where a Perlis delegate urged everyone to unite for the good of the party.

“We also saw a big brother make a reconciliatory gesture to a small brother, hugging him, indicating that the party is maturing,” said the Ampang MP, who is PKR vice-president elect.

As such, she said, it was time for the grassroots to stop fighting among themselves.

Recent party polls saw PKR split into two camps – for deputy president Azmin Ali and vice-president Rafizi Ramli, who challenged the incumbent for the No. 2 post.

The elections, which saw the participation of some 150,000 members, were marred by allegations of rigging, money politics, missing votes, phantom voters and mud slinging. – November 18, 2018.