Central election committee chairman Dr Zaliha Mustafa said nominations have been postponed from May 3 and 4 to May 8 and 9.

“The nominations process will be fully held online,” she said in a statement without disclosing the reason for the postponement.

Allegations of irregularities have plagued PKR’s divisional elections following the implementation of a blockchain-based voting system, while the party has appointed independent auditors to look into the complaints.

Its election committee has held fresh polls for four divisions following objections by defeated candidates and the discovery that one winner was still a member of Mukhriz Mahathir’s Pejuang.

The divisional elections saw several big names losing, including PKR vice-presidents Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and K Saraswathy, deputy ministers Akmal Nasir and Adam Adli, as well as several other MPs and assemblymen.

Some of these major figures were said to be allies of PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, the economy minister, who has gone on leave “for a few days”. This followed a Malaysiakini report denying that Rafizi had quit his ministerial post.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the PKR president, played down Rafizi going on leave, saying it was a non-issue, and quipping that he was also looking to take a few days off soon.