AZMIN STILL AHEAD AFTER FIRST LEG OF SARAWAK PKR POLLS

After first phase of polls in Sarawak, he is ahead of Rafizi by more than 4,500 votes

UNOFFICIAL results for the first leg of PKR’s final round of polls held in Sarawak yesterday saw deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali remain in the lead to defend his post against challenger vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

Azmin has 62,421 votes while Rafizi received 57,844.

Over the course of the party polls, which began on Sept 22, there was fierce competition between Azmin and Rafizi, with the former leading by an overall margin of 4,577 votes up to 7pm.

The first of two phases of polls saw the election process carried out at 20 branches yesterday.

However, polling for the Julau branch, which saw an unusual voter spike from 66 to an astounding 13,178, had been postponed due to a discovery of spyware in 10 tablets used for e-voting.

PKR central leadership council member Latheefa Koya had earlier called for polling in Julau to be suspended due to alleged discrepancies in voter numbers.

Azmin has been leading the race for the deputy presidency in 13 states, where he had edged Rafizi with a majority of 3,202 after obtaining 59,594 votes (51.4 per cent). Rafizi was trailing at 56,392 votes (48.6 per cent).

However, as at press time, unofficial results for other posts are yet to be released.

Azmin’s allies running for the four vice-president seats remain in a comfortable position: Ampang member of parliament and outgoing Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin obtained 52,226 votes, Kuala Langat member of parliament Dr Xavier Jayakumar won 47,566 votes and former Batu MP Tian Chua received 42,068.

The only vice-presidency candidate who is not from the same camp, incumbent Nurul Izzah Anwar, remain in the top four after obtaining 67,050 votes.

As for the Youth chief post, Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin is in the lead with 14,000 votes, leaving behind his challengers Johor Baru MP Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (13,169) and Kota Anggerik assemblyman Mohd Najwan Halimi (2,982).

For the deputy Youth chief post, Azmin’s political secretary, Hilman Adham, leads with 16,951 votes while rival Raymond Ahuar received 8,440 votes.

For the Wanita chief’s post, Taman Medan state assemblyman Haniza Mohd Talha is leading the race with 24,179 votes, while her challenger, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, obtained 19,662 votes.

The fight for the deputy Wanita chief post saw Daroyah Alwi in the lead with 23,599 against rival Rodziah Ismail (18,006 votes).

A majority of Azmin’s camp is seen leading the race for 20 seats in the leadership council.

Topping the charts are Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, Sungai Buloh MP R. Sivarasa and Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Rashid Hasnon.