PKR to finalise GE15 candidate list by Oct 19

PKR has announced that it will settle its list of candidates before the Election Commission’s (EC) upcoming meeting to set the 15th general election (GE15) date.

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli noted that the party’s new approach to candidate vetting is more “transparent, objective and democratic”, as a result of voters demanding candidates of a higher calibre.

"PKR election candidates will be finalised no later than Oct 19,” he said in a statement today.

The EC plans to meet on Oct 20 to discuss important dates related to GE15 including polling and nomination day.

Rafizi recently announced a new website allowing Malaysians to nominate themselves as a candidate of his party for GE15.

The initiative is intended to enable PKR to “widen its talent pool”.

Nominees will be assessed based on their strength of machinery, social media influence, and role in the party among other key areas and skills.

Within each seat, five top candidates will be shortlisted. PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and Rafizi - who is also the election director of the party - will deliberate.

Short of prediction

According to Rafizi, 1,673 individuals have nominated themselves as PKR candidates as of 10am today.

This falls short of Rafizi’s previous prediction that the party will see 10,000 registrations nationwide, following the unveiling of the site.

The former Pandan MP added that the party's candidate secretariat is also in the process of screening likely candidates, which will also be discussed at the candidates committee meeting tonight.

“I think the focus of the people to differentiate the parties competing in GE15 is on the authority, diversity, professional skills and suitability of the touted candidates.

“This is one of the niches that PKR will focus on to distinguish us from the parties in BN and Perikatan Nasional,” Rafizi said.

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