Kata Carian

17 Oktober 2011

UNDIlah aku

So who is a "winnable candidate?"

COMMENT by BARADAN KUPPUSAMY

WITH the general election months away, the Barisan Nasional is
pinning its hope on winning big with a slate of young and presentable
“winnable” candidates who will have the “wow” factor that was sorely
missing for the coalition in 2008.

The “wow” factor is considered
important for candidates now that the political landscape has changed
dramatically and voters are younger and more discerning and demanding of
their representatives. In the new political landscape, public perception is also a crucial factor.

And the coalition that is in line with public perception by fielding the “right” candidates stand to gain.

Barisan
wants to fit in with public expectation and present a slate that not
only has the “wow” appeal but is considered winnable.

Both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have been telling Barisan component parties to pick winnable candidates for the big battle ahead. Although
some veteran political players are sure to get fielded, the bulk of the
Barisan candidates is expected to come from the below 40's age group.

Age
is a crucial factor in picking the right candidate because most of the
14 million voters are below the age of 40. A candidate to represent them
should necessarily come from this age bracket. In 2008, Pakatan
Rakyat fielded many young people as candidates and they made a major
impact with the voters giving the coalition victory in 82 parliamentary
seats. They played the guitar, sang songs and wooed voters in new and imaginative ways, including through cyberspace. People
like Elizabeth Wong, Jeff Ooi, Tony Pua, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Liew Chin
Tong and Tian Chua come to mind as candidates who were easily voted in
with large majorities.

Barisan has learnt a hard lesson in 2008 and now wants “winnable candidates” to carry its flag. But just who are the winnable candidates? What are their attributes?

Najib says a winnable candidate is humble, outgoing and close to the people.

A winnable candidate is also a good speaker, communicator and have a good command of Bahasa Malaysia.

Because
outside of the 40 or so Chinese-majority seats where a command of
Mandarin and the Chinese dialects is necessary, the bulk of the
constituencies have Malay-majority voters and Malay proficiency is a
must.

A winnable candidate must be able to woo the Malay
electorate in an effective and efficient manner and be willing to stand
before them and speak in their language. Gone are the days when a Barisan Nasional candidate could pronounce “latuk” (for Datuk) and get away with it. He must also not have any criminal record, real or perceived.

There
was a MIC candidate in the last election that did not have a criminal
record but the voters widely believed that he was involved in “hanky
panky.” Because of that he lost by a wide margin. A winnable candidate is also a candidate who does not have any “moral” questions hanging over him, including ethical ones.

Having a good moral and ethics are paramount considerations for voters in choosing the candidates. And in the changed political landscape there are no secrets, big or small, that a candidate can hide. He or she must be an open book, constantly open for public scrutiny, twenty-four seven. Immoral
behaviour, no matter how frivolous, becomes the subject of gossip and
it is bad for a “winnable” candidate because the other side will use and
exploit it to the fullest.

A winnable candidate is also
financially sound. His finance will come for scrutiny and in this age of
appropriate behaviour, everything counts. Proper management of one's finance is an indicator of sound character and good behaviour and leads to an excellent wakil rakyat.

The
winnable candidates that the Barisan is searching would come under
greater scrutiny, both by Pakatan Rakyat opponents and above all, by the
voters. The voters want a younger slate from the ruling coalition. They also want clean, morally upright candidates. The
next general election is crucial for Barisan because it has to convince
voters that it is transforming and leading the change that the country
sorely needs.

It has to convince voters that it is the coalition to lead the country. And
to do that it has to field a slate of candidates who not only have the
“wow” factor but are also younger, cleaner, morally upright and
financially sound. And above all, the winnable candidates are a cut above their Pakatan Rakyat opponents. Only than would voters, the bulk of them younger and newly-registered, be convinced to throw their support behind Barisan.