Quality candidates vital to win GE

Unlike before, this time round voters are more aware and want assurance that victorious candidates would not defect after election to gain personal benefits, says an academician.

GEORGE TOWN: Political parties should not field just any ‘Tom, Dick and Harry’ in the forthcoming general election if they want to achieve electoral success, warned a local academician here today.

Sivamurugan Pandian, a lecturer in Universiti Sains Malaysia, said due to rapidly growing political awareness among voters, both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat would have to field quality candidates.

“Candidates would be scrutinised by voters more than ever before. They must be credible personalities with dignity and integrity and without any baggage.

“The candidates must be trustworthy, competent and loyal.

“BN and Pakatan can’t afford to field anyone, or else the voters would reject them,” he told FMT here today.

Hence, he said it would be crucial and imperative for BN and Pakatan to vet their candidates thoroughly before fielding them.

He said voters don’t want to be shortchanged and want assurance that victorious candidates would not defect after election to gain personal benefits.

Over 10 Pakatan MPs and assemblymen defected to become BN-friendly independent representative after the 2008 general election.

The defection of three state representatives caused the Perak Pakatan state government to collapse in 2009 allowing for BN to seize it in a reverse takeover.

“Quality candidates would help to develop quality, healthy and constructive democracy,” noted Sivamurugan.

He also opined that the “battle” between Prime Minister and BN chairman Najib Tun Razak and Pakatan premier-designate Anwar Ibrahim would be a key feature in the polls.

He said it remains to be seen whether the prevailing ‘feel good’ factor by Najib would translate into votes for BN. Likewise it is also to be seen if Anwar’s oratory skills would win over voters to Pakatan.

‘Pakatan ruled differently’

Sivamurugan said Najib’s ‘impressive’ report card and Anwar’s capability in keeping together a fragile and often squabbling coalition would be a big factor in the election.

He said Pakatan’s biggest challenge would be to convince voters that the coalition had a united and unwavering stand on contentious issues like “Kalimah Allah”, Islamic state and marginalised minority community rights.

The performance of Pakatan state governments based on non-uniformed policies and individual styles, he said, would influence voters.

For instance, he said PAS’ Islamic-style of governance in Kedah and Kelantan and enforced rules in Selangor had irked non-Muslims.

Unlike BN, he said Pakatan government failed to apply standard uniform policies on issues like socio-economic development, environment and housing.

“Voters could see Pakatan governments ruled differently in their own way,” he said.

He added that election manifesto, major national and local issues, machinery and media would as usual play a pivotal role in deciding vote swing.

“It’s a tough battle for both sides of political divide,” said Sivamurugan.