PKR: JPP members are above board

PETALING JAYA: PKR has declared that none of its party’s central election committee (JPP) members are involved in any form of misconduct ahead of its incoming party polls.

JPP chairman Datuk Rashid Din, who announced this, said an internal probe was launched after two Kedah JPP members were detained on Sunday for suspected graft.

“The JPP launched an internal investigation on all its members. We want to state here that there are no staff members or officers from the JPP central secretariat involved in any form of activities against the rules and ethics of the 2018 party polls,” he told a press conference at the PKR headquarters here yesterday.

He said the arrest of the two Kedah JPP members for suspected graft would not affect the party’s electoral process, as the JPP had already identified replacements to take over the duties of the two people.

“We welcome the swift action by Kedah MACC in addressing the issue. The JPP is always ready to cooperate will all quarters to ensure that the 2018 party polls takes place with transparency, integrity and with adherence with the rules and regulations,” he added.

Rashid also maintained that the party polls would not be delayed due to the impending Port Dickson by-election, which will be contested by incoming PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“It cannot be delayed. We are in full swing and preparations are at 90% already.”

The PKR polls is expected to be concluded in November.

The two Kedah PKR JPP mem- bers, aged 46 and 48, were detained for allegedly asking for RM20,000 from a candidate to ensure that his name remained in the system for the party divisional election. They were released on bail yesterday.

According to a source, the suspects told the candidate that his name would be dropped from the list of candidates unless he paid the money.

The case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC act for corruptly soliciting, receiving or agreeing to receive any gratification as an inducement or reward.

We want to state here that there are no staff members or officers from the JPP central secretariat involved in any form of activities against the rules and ethics of the 2018 party polls. Datuk Rashid Din

Clearing doubts: PKR election committee chairman Datuk Rashid Din (right) and party central election committee secretary Ismail Yusop at the press conference.