KUALA SELANGOR, May 11 — The hotly-contested Kuala Selangor Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) division election ended with a whimper today, as it was called off indefinitely due to allegations of irregularities in the voting process.

The election process, which started about 8.30am, was called off at 1.45pm after several party members raised objections over the manner in which the election was conducted, including allegations that the ‘wakil calon’ (representatives of the candidates) marked the ballot papers, instead of the voters themselves.

The announcement regarding the cancellation of the voting process was made by Arshad Abu Bakar — the candidate contesting for the post of Kuala Selangor PKR division deputy chief — at the polling centre in Bestari Jaya here.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is taking on former Kapar Member of Parliament S. Manikavasagam in a straight fight for the Kuala Selangor division chief post.

According to V. Bobinath, a candidate for the division’s youth vice-chief post, his name was not in the candidate’s list at the polling centre.  “I am puzzled as during nomination day, my name was there but today, my name had mysteriously disappeared,” he said when met by reporters.

In an immediate reaction to the cancellation of the divisional voting, Abdul Khalid apologised to PKR members over the failure of PKR’s election process.

He tweeted that PKR needed total transformation, following various allegations of sabotage and non-transparent handling of the election.

Earlier, Abdul Khalid denied allegations of vote-buying as claimed by Manikavasagam.

Manikavasagam had claimed that he had audio recordings showing Abdul Khalid, through his officer, paying up to RM50 to buy votes.

“I have evidence of the audio recording (on money politics) and will upload it soon. I have received complaints that party voters were bribed with RM30 to vote for candidates contesting for national posts and RM20 for the Kuala Selangor division chief post,” said Manikavasagam. — Bernama