Embattled PKR incumbent deputy president Azmin Ali lost by seven percent to his rival Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in the voting for the party elections in Penang yesterday.

The latest election results indicate that Azmin won 1,315 or 35 percent of the votes against the 820 votes (22 percent) received by Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Saifuddin’s 1,572 votes (42 percent).

This is despite Azmin being backed by several PKR top leaders in Penang, including state executive councillors Abdul Malik Kassim, Dr Afif Bahardin and Nibong Tebal MP Mansor Othman.

During a meeting with party members in Seberang Jaya last Saturday, Azmin had expressed some concern over the tough fight he was facing against Saifuddin and Khalid.

He also expressed worry that his allies - Mansor (left) and Malik - had “deserted” him.

Azmin’s fears were soon allayed when the Mansor and Malik turned up for the session at Hotel Sunway and openly expressed their support for Azmin to be PKR deputy president.

The party has 13 elected representatives in Penang - 10 assemblypersons and three MPs - but only nine are contesting for PKR leadership posts. Permatang Pauh MP Anwar Ibrahim, Afif and Kebun Bunga assemblyperson Cheah Kah Peng are not contesting division chief posts.

Azmin’s allies appeared to also suffer the fate he did in Penang when they lost to those aligned with Saifuddin.

In Tanjong, Malik, who is also a state executive councillor, lost to former municipal councillor Ng Chek Siang, after having held the divisuion chief’s post for 15 years.

Others aligned with Saifuddin, such as Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, Machang Bubuk assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon and Bukit Tengah assemblyperson Ong Chin Wen, won the Bayan Baru, Bukit Mertajam and Batu Kawan divisions respectively.

Sim retained his his post despite a strong challenge from Deputy Chief Minister I and Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Rashid Hasnon (on the left), a veteran leader who had been with the party since its formation in 1999.

In Bayan Baru, Azmin won a measly 32 votes compared with Saifuddin’s 459 votes, while Khalid scored only 24.

Even in Permatang Pauh, Azmin lost closely, by four votes, garnering 107 to Saifuddin’s 110, while Khalid was given only 20 votes.

However, Azmin’s ally, Seberang Perai municipal councillor Amir Ghazali, won the Permatang Pauh chief’s post while Afif won the deputy chief’s post against Penanti assemblyperson Norlela Ariffin, who contested both posts.

Azmin still leading by 12,000-plus votes

Overall, it is learnt that Azmin is still leading the race for the PKR deputy presidency by 12,849 (49 percent) votes against Khalid's 7,171 (27 percent) and Saifuddin's 6,161 (24 percent).

So far, Azmin has reportedly won in Sarawak, Sabah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Perlis, Johor and Malacca.m Other than Penang, he fared poorly in Kedah and Pahang.

Azmin’s victory comes in the midst of accusations of election fraud, namely in Bukit Sadong, Sarawak.

The division polls were suspended after PKR member Badrul Hisham Shaharin (right in photo) lodged a complaint against Azmin, saying he had proof that the Gombak MP had a hand in the alleged fraud.

Voting in another division, Nibong Tebal, was also suspended about 9pm yesterday, due to allegations of phantom voters. Here, where Mansor, the state PKR chief, is being challenged by Sungai Bakap assemblyperson Makhtar Shapee and a relatively unknown member, Sanjeeviramah Subramani.

When contacted, Mansor said he protested the suspension of voting, which he described as “unfair”.

“I was leading all the way. Those who were losing could not accept the results,” Mansor told Malaysiakini. “I did my work and registered many members in Nibong Tebal. They are not phantom voters.”