This evening, I read Adila Razak's article in Malaysiakini about how PKR is formulating a criteria list to ensure the quality of its future election candidates for the next GE and even for the Sarawak state elections.
The report identified a a point-system to measure 12 criteria including:
The report identified a a point-system to measure 12 criteria including:
- 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')
- no 'skeletons in the closet including legal, moral and criminal scandals'.
- 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.
Academic qualifications
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.
Other characteristics:
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.
Other characteristics:
- Humility (by dropping the Yang Berhormat honorific)
- Have a good posture
- Have had three years experience in a NGO or residents association
- Be tech-savvy enough to have had a Facebook and Twitter account for at least two years
- Candidates may have to take 'personality tests' to assess the character of the person, their attitude and personality.
- They must be service-oriented and people-friendly.
- Trustworthy
Personally, while I applaud this move, I must say that it is OVERDUE. It has taken the loss of four parliamentarians and six state assemblyman over two years before they sprung into action. To be fair, the current criteria should also be applied to existing PKR lawmakers and they should also be told that they need to make these requirements. If lacking in any area, the top leadership should step forward to mentor them.
Also, the 12-point criteria does not address the ethics of leaving their seat i.e. in a defection. I strongly believe that this has to be addressed. Perhaps they should be bound by a covenant or a legal contract (with some exceptions that are mutually agreed upon by both parties) to deter would be defectors from jumping ship.
PR component parties should also have a handbook for all lawmakers or job description of some sort and also a quarterly review which should be submitted to their superiors. Constituents should be encouraged to give feedback about their representatives and there should be get-together sessions where some form of interaction is encouraged for the leadership to assess the effectiveness of the work of their lawmakers.
If there is a higher element of accountability and commitment to excellence, I am sure we can see better quality lawmakers.
This problem has to be addressed across the board and streamlined for all Pakatan Rakyat component parties to make it standard requirements once there is ample dialogue, discussion and amendments made. Whatever it is, the rakyat want the best and deserve the best.
PKR and Pakatan Rakyat, if you want to make it to Putrajaya - give us your best and you can be sure of the best support from your supporters. You can do it and you HAVE TO!!! We are counting on you.
Anonymous Financial capability (able to contribute up to RM150,000 to contest a parliamentary seat and RM100,000 for a state seat)???
Poor rakyat like me will never have a chance to stand as a PKR candidate in future!