Gerakan to field young professional
GERAKAN will likely field a candidate below the age of 40 for the upcoming Tanjung Piai by-election.
The initiative was based on the younger generation’s interest in politics, including the choice of leaders.
Its vice-president, Oh Tong Keong, said the candidate must be young, a professional and capable of serving constituents in the area.
He said six potential candidates who fit the criteria had been identified.
The by-election machinery director said half of them were women from the Johor and party headquarters.
He said one or two of them had experience contesting in the general election.
Oh said as a multiracial party, the potential candidates were diverse in terms of race, religion and background.
“The party’s Central Working Committee will take into account various aspects before announcing the candidate.” On whether it was appropriate for the party to enter the fray after not doing so in eight by-elections after the 14th General Election (GE14), Oh said Gerakan was more confident after identifying its weaknesses and concluding its leadership course and training.
“Gerakan is well prepared to face the ninth by-election in Tanjung Piai.
“Our strength will be determined by the acceptance and support of voters in the area.
“We are offering an alternative to the people who are not satisfied with Pakatan Harapan (PH), which failed to keep its GE14 election promises, apart from the failure of Barisan Nasional (BN) to keep in check racial sentiments.”
Gerakan’s foray into the Tanjung Piai by-election will see a three-cornered fight involving PH and BN.
The by-election is being held following the death of its incumbent and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Md Farid Md Rafik, 42, due to a heart attack last month.
In GE14, Dr Farid won the parliamentary seat with a 524-vote majority over Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng (BN-MCA) and Nordin Othman (Pas).