PKR election in Lawas almost ‘no show’

LAWAS: The election at the branch of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) here was almost scuppered when Lawas District Council cancelled at the last minute permission to use the Lawas Indoor Stadium for the poll yesterday.

Sarawak PKR chairman and Works Minister, Baru Bian, said the move was clearly an abuse of power to disrupt the election process.

“This action was obviously an abuse of power to pressure us. We will take action and I will direct my officers to make a complete report to the authorities for further action,” he said when met by the media yesterday.

The Selangau MP and Ba Kelalan assemblyman added: “I was notified around midnight by my officer saying that the council secretary, Zulkifli Sahari, had cancelled the use of the stadium following directive from permanent secretary to the Ministry of Local Government.”

Baru said the party had obtained an approval and had paid RM500 for rental last week to use the stadium, but at the eleventh hour they were told not to use it. He added that the council should give enough time for them to find another avenue for the election.

Baru, who won unopposed as Sarawak PKR chairman and Lawas PKR chief, described the matter as unprofessional act of the GPS-led government.

He also claimed that similar attempts were made to disrupt PKR polls in Lubok Antu and Julau divisions but these were not done at the last minute.

He was, nevertheless, satisfied that the election in Lawas went smoothly which involved over 1,000 PKR registered voters, the majority of whom voted for Azmin Ali’s camp.