On the sidelines of a function in Kepala Batas here, Saifuddin said the decision to go digital in this year’s party election was not his alone but a collective decision by the PKR leadership.
He said even the choice of system, procedure and election of a special party election committee or JPP was affirmed by the top leadership through the party’s political bureau.
This follows criticism by Haniza Talha, the deputy chief of PKR’s women’s wing, who said Saifuddin had failed to heed warnings on the weaknesses of the e-voting system.
She also accused him of not being neutral in his position as secretary-general.
However, Saifuddin said it was unfair to blame him for issues arising from the system as it had been given the green light by the party’s political bureau.
“The bureau includes Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Mohamed Azmin Ali, Tian Chua, Zuraida Kamaruddin – the entire top leadership. It’s not just me calling the shots here.”
He also hit out at those who criticised the system, saying there were no such objections during the dry run held in all states prior to the election.
“I want to ask my critics, how many times they observed the dry runs and whether they voiced their opinions.
“Why play politics and ‘smash’ the secretary-general when he has nothing to do with it?”
Saifuddin said the problems which arose during the first leg of the polls in Kedah and Penang had been noted and would be discussed at the party’s political bureau meeting tomorrow morning.
Party members from Penang who had objections to the polls could submit them in writing to the PKR headquarters, he added.
However, he said causing a ruckus or throwing chairs was unacceptable as the party had civil ways of conveying grievances.
“Going through the media to convey your problems is not the right way,” he added. “Write to us, that is the right way.”
A melee had broken out during the press conference on Saturday to announce the Penang PKR results, with chairs flung and punches thrown.
A complaint about irregularities in the system also led to a fracas in the Merbok PKR division in Kedah, forcing a suspension of polling in eight of the 15 divisions in the state.
Party leader Anwar Ibrahim has said he will not tolerate acts of violence and will ensure that troublemakers are expelled from the party.