PETALING JAYA, May 1 — Parti Keadilan Rakyat has scrapped the results of voting in internal party polls from one branch in Sarawak after investigations revealed irregularities.

PKR elections director Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani said his investigations have showed up discrepancies that confirm fraud at Batang Sadong branch during polling time.

“So, we have decided to cancel the electoral results in Batang Sadong branch. Yes, we can do that,” Johari said, adding that the PKR election committee is unlike the Election Commission (EC).

He added that stern, immediate action could be taken against electoral fraud.

“We know, we investigate, proven, and you are gone,” Johari said.

When asked on the discrepancies, Johari said there were indications of ballot tampering and stuffing.

“The number of voters and papers in the ballot boxes did not match,” Johari said, adding that random checks with a dozen voters revealed that their ballots allegedly differed from what were cast.

Johari added that fresh polls for the branch may be held on May 10. Several candidates who took part were now under probe and the election monitor has been suspended.

A special squad of volunteers has been created to monitor the voting and report back to the committee.

He also revealed that the committee will investigate other cases of suspicious results at branches in Sarawak and peninsular Malaysia, but did not specify these.

All investigation results will be revealed in due time, Johari said.

Spread over three weekends, voting for PKR’s internal polls will end May 11. Results will be announced on May 13.

PKR’s last party elections in 2010 were mired with allegations of vote fraud and corruption, which led to some leaders leaving the party in protest.