'I was never asked how much money I had': Former doctor says Bersama welcomed ordinary Malaysians into politics

JOHOR BAHRU - Former doctor and Bersama candidate for Tiram Dr Harith Fakhrudin Abdul Malek said he decided to enter politics because the newly formed party offered something he had never found elsewhere which is a platform that values capability and public service over financial resources.

The 40-year-old candidate said his political involvement was driven by a long-standing desire to contribute to reform in Malaysia rather than allegiance to any particular political figure.

"I didn't join because of any individual or personality. Since I was young, I have always supported political parties that wanted to bring reform.

"I never liked seeing people hold power for too long because power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely," he told Sinar Daily.

Dr Harith said he had previously explored opportunities with other political parties but felt discouraged by what he described as an entrenched political culture where financial strength often outweighed merit.

"On the surface, I already felt that the vibe and the language were different. The sense I got was that if you have money, you can come in. If you don't have money, it becomes very difficult.

"It is not about whether you are capable or whether you work hard. Those things become secondary," he said.

He said he had no plans to contest in the Johor state election until Bersama announced that it would open applications to members of the public interested in becoming candidates.

"That was when I saw a platform. Before Bersama existed, I never really thought about entering politics," he said.

Dr Harith said one of the factors that convinced him to join the party was the selection process itself, where candidates were never questioned about their financial capabilities.

"Throughout the meetings and discussions, not once did anyone ask me about my finances or how much money I had. That was very important to me," he said.

He said some aspiring candidates had even asked whether they needed to prepare money to contest the election, but the party leadership made it clear that financial capacity would not determine a person's political opportunities.

"Even simple things like paying for volunteers' meals were not expected from candidates," he said.

Dr Harith added that the culture of money politics has become a significant barrier preventing ordinary Malaysians from participating in politics.

"If I can afford to buy meals for volunteers, another candidate may be able to provide a buffet and someone else may even be able to give RM100. Where does it stop? This is the level of seriousness of the problem because it closes the space for ordinary people to participate in politics," he said.

He added that a political system that prioritises financial strength risks sidelining talented individuals who have the ability and commitment to serve the public.

Dr Harith is a former medical doctor who graduated with a medical degree. He began his medical career at the University Malaya Medical Centre and later served at the Sultan Ismail Hospital.

However, after the birth of his first child, Dr Harith and his wife - who is also a doctor - faced the difficult challenge of balancing the demanding schedules of government service with raising a family.

He eventually decided to leave the medical profession to prioritise family responsibilities, while his wife continued her career as a medical practitioner.

Following his departure from medicine, Dr Harith embarked on a new career as a financial consultant.