Select right people who can perform for GE14 — Hiew

KOTA KINABALU: Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Cheu yesterday highlighted the various criteria that is important in the selection of candidates for the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming 14th general election.

In a statement issued yesterday, Hiew pointed out that the BN leadership must exercise care in selecting the right and winnable candidates.

“This is to ensure that the people will be served and taken care of well in the future,” he said.

In addition, he said the chosen person must possess the heart and readiness to serve, is very knowledgeable, possess an selfless and open character with good educational background, vast experience in community work and have good relationship with the community.

The other very important factor, he said, is that the person must be trustworthy and have a long proven service record. Only with all these will the people in the constituency give their full support. The voters will judge and weigh all these factors before they cast their votes.

“Many a time, there are people who think that they are qualified and eligible to be a candidate in the election. Unfortunately, the voters, taking into consideration some of their shortcomings, may think otherwise.

“The voters may primarily consider the political party that the particular person is attached to. The background of the political party will also determine whether it is the choice of the voters,” he said.

Hiew said it could therefore be somewhat of a risk to consider a yet unproven political party to replace the existing ruling party on the basis that they may not have established experience, creditable candidates and proven track record in running a government.

“Do we want to risk all that, as it definitely is not a game!” he asked.

He said in the past and even now, opposition parties in Malaysia have highlighted problems of the ruling BN government with the aim of tarnishing its image. They raised these in the hope that the voters will become aware and consider them as the alternative government to take over from the present one.