Rafizi: PKR needs to raise RM1mil to file petitions to challenge the outcome of the general election

 

(The Star) – PKR needs to raise RM1mil to challenge the outcome of last month’s general election in 18 parliamentary and one state seat; the bulk of 34 election petitions that would be filed by parties in the Opposition front.

PAS will be challenging the results in four parliamentary and nine state seats while the DAP will petition against two parliamentary seats.

All parties have until tomorrow to file their petitions, which is the end of the 21-day deadline upon the gazetting of the May 5 polls result.

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli said the petitions would involve an initial cost of about RM500,000 for the party.

“We need to raise an additional RM1mil, as the total cost will be about RM1.5mil,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

“We would have to hold at least three fund-raising events within the next three weeks to come up with the extra RM1mil,” he said, adding that the DAP and PAS would finance their own petitions.

The petitions would be filed at the High Court closest to the disputed seats.

Rafizi said each petition, done on a pro bono basis, entailed a deposit of RM10,000 and about RM5,000 in disbursements and filing fees.

Among the seats in dispute are those lost to Barisan candidates by slim majorities and those where the PKR allegedly found evidence of electoral fraud.

Rafizi also said that PKR was filing a separate petition under the Election Offences Act against Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who allegedly exceeded the permitted RM200,000 election budget.

“Ahmad Zahid was caught on camera admitting to giving out RM100 and packets of rice to 24,000 voters in Bagan Datoh,” claimed Rafizi, adding that he would release a video to prove his claim at a later date.