[UPDATED] PKR disqualifies Ampang chief Daing Muhammad, fresh polls on June 29

KUALA LUMPUR – PKR has dropped its newly elected Ampang chief Daing Muhammad Reduan Bachok, and is holding fresh polls for the division on June 29.

PKR election committee (JPP) chairman Zaliha Mustafa, in a notice to party members, said fresh polls for the division will be held between 12pm and 8pm at Dewan Dato’ Ahmad Razali in Kg Baru Ampang.

This came after the party’s complaints committee panel found violations took place in the division on May 21.

However, she did not elaborate on the alleged violations during the polls that were held last month.

“The JPP upholds and accepts the decision made by the election complaints panel, therefore we wish to inform you that the Ampang division will be holding a re-election,” she said in the notice.

“In relation to this, the panel has made the decision to disqualify Daing Muhammad Reduan Bachok as a candidate for the division chief post in the Ampang re-election.”

Zaliha said the decision on the matter was final and in line with the party’s rules and regulations.

On May 29, celebrities Datuk Hans Isaac and Altimet lost their bid in the contest with Daing Muhammad, who is a controversial figure in the party.

Daing Muhammad raked in the most votes at 942, followed by Hans’ 609, while Altimet, whose real name is Syed Ahmad Abdul Rahman, trailed in third position with 589 votes.

The other three contenders, Abdul Halim Mohamed Yusof, Sam Hoo Wai, Abdullah Md Zain, and Abdul Latif Shaari, had only 272, 138, 110 and 17 votes, respectively.

Daing Muhammad, 37, courted controversy in 2018 after he was charged with insulting the modesty of PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli at a community centre in Kg Merampong in Keningau, Sabah.

However, the Kota Kinabalu sessions court acquitted him last November after the judge ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case.

Speaking to The Vibes this evening, Hans said he was “surprised” by the decision, but noted that Ampang party members would take the lead from the JPP and follow procedures.

“I’m glad this has happened as I felt I stood an extremely good chance of winning, even from day one,” the actor said. 

“But now the work needs to be done once again as we only have four to five days to bring out our voters and supporters who want a line-up selected by the grassroots members.”

Hans also said that this showed that PKR allowed its members to properly vote for their leaders as it is a democratic party.

“I thank the party and JPP for doing what is right in calling for the re-election.”

Meanwhile, Altimet also said he did not expect the re-election but confirmed that he would be in the running for the post again.

“My understanding of the situation is that no names may be added or removed from the candidate list,” he said in a brief message. – The Vibes, June 24, 2022