KUCHING: Turnout at PKR Sarawak’s election today and tomorrow is expected to be between 25% and 30% of the party’s 50,000 members statewide.
State PKR election committee deputy chairman and PKR Petra Jaya chairman Baharuddin Mohsen said the turnout percentage was based on past elections.
“In past elections the turnout was about 25-30%.This year we expect 15,000 to 20,000 turnout,” Baharuddin disclosed in an interview with the New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
There are altogether 29 divisions (Cabang). According to Baharuddin, the Jawatankuasa Pemilihan Pusat (JPP) will be conducting the election and they are supposed to be neutral. Baharuddin said as far as Sarawak was concerned the fight was “very straightforward” between two factions – Azmin Ali’s and Rafizi Ramli’s.
“So it is clear-cut where there is a cabana contest – they are either Azmin’s team or Rafizi’s team.
“What I want to stress is that traditionally, Sarawak has always been supportive of Azmin because Azmin and his team have always been supportive of Sarawak. Although he might not be here physically (all the time), he is always supportive of Sarawak for the last 10-15 years. It is not just one or two years. He has helped us in elections by helping with things like logistics, flags and t-shirts etc. So Azmin has been doing it for the past 10-15 years.
“That is why as far as Sarawak is concerned we are supporting Azmin,” said Baharuddin.
On allegations that Azmin made decisions outside the party and gave authority for three-cornered fights with DAP in last state election, Baharuddin said: “This is total fabrication. It is a lie because that decision was taken rightly or wrongly by the Keadilan leaders of Sarawak.
“Azmin only listened to what we deliberated and decision was made by all the senior leaders. I was there and I participated in the decision,” Baharuddin said.
According to him, Rafizi’s people are playing up this issue heavily, saying if Azmin remains deputy president, decisions would always remain his to make.
