Both PAS and Umno are reluctant to name their candidates in the Pengkalan Pasir by-election even when the nomination is just two weeks away. There are structural reasons for it which can be traced to the election nomination rules/process.

The main point is that objections to a candidate must be done within a couple of hours after nomination papers are filed. So most candidates are not scrutinised as to whether they are bankrupt, had held bad records in business, politics or are dying soon.

In contrast, the Thai election process allows a two-week objection period during which all the public records of the candidates can be scrutinised. In the Malaysian case, the short objection period forces the parties to hide the identities of the candidates till the nomination day.

Previously, there were a string of by-elections caused mostly by the passing away of elected candidates. While the opportunities for by-elections are to be welcomed, the cause of them to be held because of a death should be minimised.

There is no rational reason to allow a candidate to run especially if his or her good health is suspect. But a more serious issue should be the candidates' stands on various issues. By cutting short the objection period for candidates to a few hours, it means that the election will be decided more by the parties than by the candidates who are supposed to represent local sentiments in the legislature.

The short period simply does not allow voters and the media to dig into the candidates' past. It just undermines the concept of the people's representative when the election machineries of the parties count more in deciding the outcome of the elections.

Actually if there were longer objection period with replacement of candidates being accepted, then the various issues can take care of themselves. But BN chooses to keep the scrutineering of candidates to themselves and will not amend the election rules.

As a reflection of the problem, Umno has asked PAS to declare their candidates together. PAS is not agreeable to this probably because they worry about their candidate getting more attacks from the Umno-controlled media.

The rules should be changed to make this worry redundant. Election candidates should be scrutinised fully instead of being protected and sheltered.