PKR Petra Jaya branch election: Baharuddin expresses concern over ‘very slow’ voting process

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Iswardy (left) and Baharuddin posing for the media at the polling centre.

KUCHING: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Petra Jaya incumbent chairman has expressed concern over the “very slow” voting process at Hotel Seri Liny in Jalan Haji Taha here, where the branch’s election is being held.

“We are very concerned by the very slow voting process. We have to gather our supporters at Jalan Astana for them to report as here is not very comfortable, we will ferry them here to vote. At the moment even here is still crowded, a lot of them are waiting.

“We are getting a bit worried, it is only about 150 only now (voters who have casted their votes. There are nine tablets, two are dedicated to senior citizens.

“Contrary to 10 to 12 minutes per person estimated by the headquarters, averagely it is taking everybody almost 15 minutes per person and 20 to 30 minutes for senior citizens,” Baharuddin told reporters today.

Baharuddin revealed that female voters required much longer time as they have to vote more categories compared to their male counterparts.

“The female voters have to vote for four things, the central committee, the branch committee, the women wing national level and women wing branch. Under our regulation, each polling station is only allowed to operate seven hours,” he stressed.

This, he believed, had also created technical problem in Julau branch, Sarawak and Pensiangan, Sabah because they had to extend beyond seven hours.

“That is the big issue at the moment but we understand why this is happening here. We take cognisance and create the gathering centre because we don’t want people to get agitated by the long wait and start problem,” he said.

On the police report by his rival, Iswardy Morni who lodged report yesterday, Baharuddin explained that Iswardy was entitled to do so.

“As far as I am concerned, I was only adhering to the headquarters directive. Our side, I got no comment on that. This is a real technical problem that you could not avoid. We got a letter from HQ on November 7, not only to me, for the whole of Sarawak, listing who is voting on Saturday and who voting on Sunday, we are listed on Sunday.

“The incumbent branch chief, which I am, must prepare polling station to be approved by headquarters, I wasted a lot of money on cancelled bookings because now is the season for Malays community to hold their weddings. Once you cancelled, you will have problem,” he stressed.

Baharuddin said they have to settle for this venue because there is no other available choice as the polling date has been changed last minute.

“Our first choice venue is much more comfortable than here, bigger but when you cancelled, it’ gone because of other wedding functions confirmed earlier,” he explained.

Baharuddin said the only sad thing is that the police report implicated him as a very senior member of PKR Sarawak, if not the most senior active member of PKR Sarawak.

“They think I have magical hand in KL (Kuala Lumpur)? Come on lah, I am not that powerful. This is the sad thing about it. His statement in Berita Harian yesterday was uncalled for. You don’t blame your opponent, you blame the headquarters. This is a family contest, I take the trouble to understand, what happened,” he lamented.

“JPP is equal to SPR (election commission) When I know the technicality, and we are human, this is our family, this is our big party Keadilan, we should be more magnanimous in thinking and consideration,” he added.

Baharuddin said although there were a lot of nasty things that people have said about him, he would take it with his chin up, and walk around proudly because he is with the party long enough to understand.

He was also puzzled that many people offered themselves to be recognised as PKR leaders after Pakatan Harapan victory in the 14th General Election.

“I know everybody want to have that piece of cake, where were you before this? We have been struggling with PKR for so long, we struggled with limited resources and the way BN (Barisan Nasional) treated us, but we were there.

“After the victory, suddenly everybody want to be leader. Some were very old and dormant and now suddenly want to be active. At personal level, this is my sadness. In party policy, we should be consistent,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iswardy Morni, believed the voters turnout would be very good as people had been arriving as early as 7am to the polling station.

“Alhamdulillah, some workers arrived as early as 6am, voters came as early as 7am for registration. Voting goes on smoothly. Based on the info, many will come later today as the latest time to cast vote is at 4pm,” he said.

Iswardy was very happy with the crowd control as the number of voters coming was relatively low at one time compared to what happened in other parts of the country.

“Based on the record of Central Election Committee, we have about 1,508 voters and we are expecting 40 per cent or 600 voters will be good enough. To be honest, if 400 people showing up is very good enough because four years ago, less than 200 people were showing up,” he concluded.