Gerakan candidates to use own funds to contest

ALOR SETAR - Gerakan has set several criteria in selecting candidates who will contest in the state elections, this includes the additional condition that candidates are ready and willing to use their own money when competing.

Gerakan president Dr Dominic Lau said that Gerakan had to add this criteria for candidates to contest in the state elections due to the party's limited financial resources.

"We hope that the candidate who wants to contest will (be able to) cover his own costs as a candidate to contest in the PRN.

"(However) As a party, as a leader, as president, we will help get funds from outside to help candidates," he said.

Lau said this to reporters after officiating the 2023 Kedah Gerakan Conference at Taman Anggerik, here on Sunday evening.

He said, Gerakan will continue to look for various initiatives to obtain financial funds to help party candidates campaign later.

"Yesterday (Saturday), we had the Penang PN Convention and indeed (we) asked the PN members (components) to give us financial assistance.

"We have also asked for contribution from the public when we hold talks," he said

Lau said he hopes that efforts taken by the Gerakan leadership can alleviate and help candidates to compete in the upcoming PRN.

He informed that, among other criterias that are emphasized include candidates who are fluent in the Bahasa Melayu.

"It is indeed a very important condition because we do not want after they are appointed (or) elected as Yang Berhormat (YB), but (they) cannot defend the rights (of the people) in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), or even in the Dewan Rakyat

"We already know that the language requirement is very important as YB or as a representative of the people," he said.

In addition, Lau informed, that the other criteria set include winnable candidates.

He explained that the state leadership will be asked to suggest the names of candidates they feel are suitable to represent Gerakan and PN before the evaluation is done to ensure they meet the set criteria.

He reminded the party that the issue of seizing the position of Chief Minister in Gerakan was one of the reasons why the party lost in Penang during the 12th General Election (GE12) in 2008.