PKR POLLS | PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim has chastised the "impetuous behaviour" which led to the arrest of one of the party's election officers over an alleged "cyber attack" in the Julau division polls.

It is believed that the election officer was detained following a police report being lodged, spurred by deputy presidential candidate Rafizi Ramli claiming that the officer had tampered with e-voting tablets in Julau.

"Another example of impetuous behaviour which ignores facts," Anwar said, referring to the arrest in a private text to PKR leaders.

He added that he has provided a lawyer to assist the detained election officer.

Malaysiakini has verified the text as authentic.

Anwar also pointed out that reports by members had previously led to the MACC arresting an officer from the PKR headquarters.

Commenting on Julau, he said the election committee had already lodged its own police report over the aborted polls in the division. 

He ended his text by saying: "In my statement to the media just now, I urged that party leaders be calm and accept the results as best as they can.

"Investigations can be done by police, MACC, and the MCMC."

'I cannot intervene'

In Port Dickson, Anwar was quoted as saying by Bernama that he cannot interfere in the party elections.

"Many have asked me to intervene, but I can't. This is what is not understood, including by the media.

"I can't interfere in the elections besides ensuring that there is no cheating and threats.

"I urge the election committee to appoint those who are truly independent and clean," he said.

Yesterday, Rafizi claimed that 'malware' by the name of Prey had been installed on the tablets in Julau.

Subsequently, the party's central election committee suspended the results from the division polls after what it claimed to be a "cyber attack".

Incumbent Julau PKR chief Semana Sawang, however, disputed Rafizi's version of events.

A tech expert later rubbished claims that Prey is malware.

On its website, Prey brands itself as an anti-theft software that enables users to track their devices but also “wipe data and folders remotely on a lost device."

It further allows users to manage and perform tasks on “thousands of devices” simultaneously.

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