7 NABBED FOR TRYING TO CHEAT IN PKR POLLS

Suspects released on bail after giving statements

SEVEN men were detained by police on Sunday night on suspicion of trying to cheat in the Petaling Jaya Utara PKR branch election. However, the suspects, aged between 18 and 55, were released on police bail after their statements were recorded.

District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zani Che Din said all seven were Malaysians.

“They are being investigated under Sections 420 and 511 of the Penal Code for cheating and attempting to commit offences punishable by imprisonment.”

The New Straits Times Press had reported that the second phase of voting for the PKR elections in Selangor was, like the first one, hit by problems.

This time, there were problems in Gombak and Puchong.

In Melaka, two candidates for the Tangga Batu PKR branch head’s post have lodged police reports over the party’s e-voting system, claiming there might be sabotage.

The reports were lodged by Abdullah Ali and Alias Abd Wahab at the Tanjung Minyak police station at 10pm on Sunday.

Abdullah claimed there was sabotage as the percentage of votes reported seemed to be too low and that he had yet to receive the official results.

He said a revote was needed as the outcome of the election would only be based on unofficial results.

“I think there is sabotage as the percentage of votes cast is only between 20 and 25 per cent. We waited until 3am, but we didn’t get any results.

“In fact, they (the party Election Committee) asked for 24 hours (to announce the results) and asked us to go home.”

Alias said the committee should solve the problem, adding that the e-voting system should not be used.

“At 6pm on the day of the voting (Saturday), they said the printing machine had run out of ink and the Internet connection was slow.

“Were they trying to sabotage the candidates? That made us unhappy. The e-voting system is useless. They cannot use it (for the party election).”

A total of 23,466 PKR members in the state are eligible to vote at six branches — Bukit Katil, Tangga Batu, Alor Gajah, Jasin, Kota Melaka and Masjid Tanah.