There were no recounts, says Khairy

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider

Newly-elected Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said allegations of cheating in last night's contest were born of frustration due to the delay in announcement.

After the results were announced, his supporters were involved in a scuffle with supporters of losing candidate Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, who had shouted accusations of bribery and cheating against Khairy.

But today, the Rembau MP explained that rumours that votes for the Youth chief had been recounted several times were untrue and that the ballot box had only been opened at 9.30pm.

Yesterday, results for the Youth wing were only announced after 11pm, nearly two hours later than the Wanita wing.

"The delay was due to complaints by all polling agents that they were not able to see the ballots being counted as they were placed 30 metres away. The boxes were only opened at 9.30pm.

"So all those rumours about me leading and then someone else overtaking, that was all untrue," he told reporters today.

Several media sources had published information claiming to be early tallies since early in the evening after voting closed at 1.30pm.

About 6.45pm yesterday, word of the complaints by the polling agents reached reporters.

Rumours had then begun to spread that Khairy's team had forced several recounts.

Khairy today refuted those claims, adding that there were no recounts for the Youth wing. In fact, it was the voting for Puteri chief that was recounted due to the narrow margin of just five votes.

"These rumours are just the manifestations of frustrations and disappointments from a six-month campaign which has been very draining. Some people were upset and not willing to accept the results," he said.