KUALA LUMPUR – The PKR Central Election Committee (CEC) has denied Rafizi Ramli’s allegations that it ignored objections and complaints raised over the party polls, calling the accusations untrue and disappointing.
“The claim that CEC failed to address complaints and objections is false and deeply regrettable,” said CEC deputy chairman Datuk Ahmad Kassim in a statement today, in response to remarks made by the party’s deputy president during a podcast aired on Saturday.
Rafizi, who is defending his post in the May 24 party election, had criticised the committee’s handling of the recent divisional polls, calling it a “headless body” and accusing it of ignoring hundreds of objections submitted by members.
He also questioned the independence of CEC, saying: “If Zaliha wants to be angry, so be it…but the CEC should act as a neutral body. When there are objections, answer them one by one. Sometimes, there are hundreds of objections, and they just ignore them.”
Ahmad, however, stressed that the election process was conducted transparently, based on the latest verified membership list endorsed by the party’s secretary-general’s office.
“Every complaint and objection was handled professionally, fairly, and in accordance with established rules,” he said.
Ahmad said CEC had received 289 complaints spanning the nomination process, objections to nominations, appeals, campaign issues and voting procedures.
“Each was thoroughly examined, and some were referred to the secretary-general’s office and the party’s disciplinary board,” he said.
According to him, the 2025 election regulations were approved by the Central Leadership Council (MPP) on February 23 and endorsed by the Political Bureau on March 3 – both of which Rafizi is a member of.
“These rules clearly state that all objections or appeals must be supported with sufficient evidence. The burden of proof lies with the one submitting it.”
He also said all major developments were reported periodically to MPP, making it “impossible for these matters to be unknown to council members, including Rafizi”.
On the voting results, Ahmad said objections were reviewed post-election, and MPP decided to re-examine six divisions with the help of international auditors.
“The audit report shared by Rafizi himself confirmed the e-voting system was sound, secure, and free of manipulation or misconduct.”
Rafizi had also raised concerns about “Airbnb members” – outsiders allegedly joining the party briefly to contest, then leaving – and claimed that candidates from other parties slipped through.
PKR has since confirmed it terminated 28 such individuals, including three who won divisional posts.
Secretary-general Datuk Seri Fuziah Salleh said the dismissals came after verification, and some members were reinstated upon appeal.
“They were given two weeks to submit proof of their commitment to the party,” she said.
CEC said it remains committed to conducting the party election process in a fair, clean and transparent manner until the conclusion of polls and the appointment of new leadership for 2025-2028.
Tensions continue to rise as the party is gearing up to vote for its leadership on May 23, with Rafizi and Nurul Izzah Anwar gunning for the deputy president position. – May 12, 2025