Rafizi: Bersama to name 'shadow candidates' in eyed seats

Bersama will appoint “shadow candidates” to spearhead preparations in constituencies it is eyeing for upcoming elections, according to co-leader Rafizi Ramli.

Speaking at a press conference at the party's headquarters in Puchong today, Rafizi said the appointments would follow the candidate selection process used for the party’s debut in the Johor election and the upcoming Malacca state election.

“So far, we have gone through two candidate selection processes, in Johor and Malacca.

“Our experience is that we have a sufficient mix of talent for both individuals with political experience and others from professional or other backgrounds.

“We do not have a policy that gives an advantage to any individual. It is purely based on merit,” he said when asked whether former incumbents who had left their parties to join Bersama would be given preference.

Rafizi and fellow Bersama co-leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also welcomed former Subang MP Wong Chen as an official party member today, following months of speculation fuelled by his widening rift with PKR.

Wong had previously been among a group of PKR MPs seen as aligned with Rafizi and had, on several occasions, issued joint statements critical of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the government’s policies.

On Aug 8, Wong and four others - Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, Sungai Siput MP Kesavan Subramaniam and Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan - reminded Anwar that Malaysia and public funds do not belong to him, amid controversy over several government MPs losing access to the MyKhas constituency allocation portal.

Mix of newcomers, ex-PKR members

Bersama made its electoral debut in Johor last month, fielding 15 candidates in a line-up made up largely of political newcomers recruited through an open application process, alongside at least three former PKR members.

“If you look at Johor, it was a fairly balanced mix of almost 60-40. About 60 percent were open candidates who applied to contest.

“We went through the same process in Malacca, where almost 60 to 70 percent were open candidates,” Rafizi said, referring to Bersama’s upcoming Aug 15 announcement for the yet-to-be-called Malacca polls.

“I think the same will happen when we announce our shadow candidates.

“There will be a fair balance between incumbents or those with previous political experience, and open candidates from among professionals and ordinary citizens.

“The rule for us is that it all comes back to the candidate’s suitability for the voters in that constituency. That comes first,” he stressed.

Bersama failed to win any of the 15 seats it contested in Johor, where BN secured 48 of the state’s 56 seats.

Membership surge

Rafizi further said Bersama saw a sharp increase in membership applications following the Negeri Sembilan election, which Pakatan Harapan lost to the BN-Perikatan Nasional alliance.

He said Bersama now has about 29,200 members since its May 17 launch, with about 60 percent of new members having no previous affiliation with any political party.

Of the remainder, he said that about 25 percent of applications came from former PKR members, while 15 percent from other Malay-based parties.

“That means former Umno, PAS, Bersatu, Pejuang and Amanah members,” he explained, without elaborating on what prompted them to join.

Asked whether more MPs would follow Wong’s move, Rafizi said he could not speak for them.

He also announced that Bersama would hold its party election within the next six to seven months, once amendments to its constitution are made.

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