Still smarting from a string of defections, PKR is formulating a criteria list to ensure the quality of its future election candidates. According to elections director Fuziah Salleh, a select committee will measure potential candidates against a stringent list of criteria to avoid a repeat of selection mistakes made in 2008.
“This is important because the defections have had a strong impact on PKR. In 2008, there was no criteria list used and it was all based on gut feeling,” she told Malaysiakini today.
To date, PKR has lost four parliamentarians and six state assembly persons who have all either become Independents or have joined BN component parties. Yet another MP was expelled from the party.
While PKR candidates for the recent by-elections had gone through a more rigorous process of selection, Fuziah said no formal written criteria has yet been established.
“We are trying to formulate this as soon as possible for use in the next general election. In a best-case scenario, we will be able to use it for the Sarawak polls (due next year),” she said.
“Even if it's not completely ready for the Sarawak polls, we should at least have some sort of reference.”
Fuziah added that several parties have provided input, including a group of activists within the party who have come up with a point-system to measure 12 criteria.
These include measures for loyalty, financial capability (able to contribute up to RM150,000 to contest a parliamentary seat and RM100,000 for a state seat), health ('no life-threatening diseases') and no 'skeletons in the closet including legal, moral and criminal scandals'.
By the group's criteria, potential candidates should 'preferably be married' and must also prove his or her leadership abilities by 'recruiting 8,000 members' for the party.
Those vying to be MPs must be able to recruit 1,000 people for their election team while state assembly aspirants must be able to recruit 500 people.
A potential Yang Berhormat must also display humility (by dropping the Yang Berhormat honorific), have a good posture, have had three years experience in an NGO or residents association and be tech-savvy enough to have had a Facebook and Twitter account for at least two years.
Those who have pursued postgraduate education in 'top tier international universities such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Oxford and Cambridge' will be awarded an extra point.
Possible 'personality tests'
While the party values the group's input, Fuziah said PKR will be homing in more specifically on a potential candidate's character and attitude rather than on their academic qualifications.
“We are looking more at the character of the person, their attitude and personality. They must be service-oriented and people-friendly.
“We want people who have some sort of qualification but more importantly they must be a good representative of the people […] people need to feel that they can trust the candidate. A good academic may not be a good service provider,” she said.
It is these subjective criteria which are proving to be a stumbling block for PKR in putting together a fair and objective list, she added.
“(Character traits) are hard to measure, but maybe we can do this through personality tests and by observing their behaviour (over a period of time).”
Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/132824
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