It's the candidate that matters

Everything is about who can deliver what people want, says Karpal 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012 - 15:16

by Andrew Sagayam

Location: PETALING JAYA
http://www.mmail.com.my/story/its-candidate-matters-41270

TENG: Fight for Bukit Gasing
will be between
PR and BN

WHAT matters is the candidate's ability to deliver what the people want.

The DAP is not ruffled if candidates prefer to stand as independents rather than on the party's ticket for fear of being tied down by party rules.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh said it was not about the political parties contesting but "more about the candidate".

"It's not about the Opposition or Pakatan Rakyat (PR) versus BN but it actually comes down to how good the candidate is. It is all about who can deliver what the people want," he told The Malay Mail yesterday.

Karpal was commenting on the front page report in The Malay Mail yesterday which said that three DAPlinked candidates would vie for the Bukit Gasing state seat in the next general election, including two who would contest as independents.

On DAP's candidate for Bukit Gasing, Karpal said the party had yet to decide.

"We will select a winnable candidate who must already be serving the people there," he said.

KARPAL: Candidate must
already be serving
people there

Gerakan secretary-general Teng Chang Yeow said, however, the fight for the Bukit Gasing seat was between PR and BN.

"Its always about the two parties, unless the individual is well-known to the people.

The two independent candidates will not make much difference as the main focus will be on Pakatan and Barisan," he said.

Asked if Gerakan's Datuk Dr Lim Thuan Seng — who held the seat for two terms — would be contesting as the BN candidate, he said the Gerakan leaders had made a decision and they would announce it later.

 "Yes, he is a very senior politician and he has influence in the area but it will be a struggle for Barisan.

We will put up a fight even though we know it will be an uphill task," Teng said.

The report said Bukit Gasing's four-cornered fight in the next general election might just pave the way for the return of Gerakan's Dr Lim because of split votes.

Two of the potential candidates — Simon Lee and K.W. Mak — who will contest as independents, are expected to find it tough against Dr Lim and the DAP candidate, who is likely to be Kasthuri Patto, daughter of the late DAP stalwart P. Patto and currently Lim Kit Siang's political secretary.

Simon Lee is the son of the late Edward Lee Poh Lin, who won the seat for DAP in 2008, and former journalist and Petaling Jaya councillor Mak was Edward's assistant. [Sic: Simon was personal assistant and to his late father the entire tenure as State Assemblyman for Bukit Gasing, while KW Mak was campaign manager to the late Edward Lee in the 2008 12th GE.]

 ***

Hi Andrew,

I would also like to put on record my response to the article.
The issue is not that of fear of being tied down by party rules but rather the issue of the people's interest vs party interest. What if the people's interest is in conflict with the party's interest? What position then should the elected representative take? The side of the people and be in danger of disciplinary action or the side of the party and risk being booted out in the following elections, to which the people are the ones who stand to lose out should either or happen?

The people want someone who will genuinely have their best interest at heart to represent them. If the party and candidate do not place the interest of the people first, they are not relevant. This is especially so for state elected reps as the people are faced with on-the-ground issues that affect them on a daily basis.

Regards,
Simon Lee