PETALING JAYA: Muda is opening its doors to all Malaysians to apply to become its candidates in the upcoming state elections.
Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (pic) added that the party hopes to team up with Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).
Syed Saddiq said the party will be deploying new strategies which it hopes will aid it in the polls, including the new candidate application process and fundraising.
“Muda is looking into new strategies that we can focus on especially in collecting funds, building strength, candidate selection and the talents that we want to put forth as the ‘people’s candidate’.
“Traditionally, the candidates for the election will come from the party’s leadership so Muda wants to use a new strategy.
“We will open up a form to find new candidates even though they are not a member of Muda or in the top leadership of the party,” he added.
In the 15th General Election, Muda nominated six candidates in which three were top leaders, namely Syed Saddiq, Muda Center co-founder and executive committee member Siti Rahayu Baharin, or Cikgu Rahayu, and Muda co-founder Lim Wei Jiet.
Syed Saddiq said there is no age restriction for prospective candidates and applications have been opened starting yesterday.
Applications should be submitted to http://bit.ly/calonMUDA.
He added that once an individual is selected to contest, he or she will have to register as a party member.
Muda election director Luqman Long said the party intends to go on tour in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu to find potential candidates.
“We want to ensure that 50% of our candidates are females. We want a diverse slate of candidates who are problem solvers,” Luqman said.
Muda, which has supported the federal-level unity government, announced on Tuesday that it would not be working with partners Pakatan Harapan or Barisan Nasional in the upcoming state polls.
This could see it fielding candidates against Pakatan, Barisan and the Opposition Perikatan Nasional coalition.
On working with PSM, Syed Saddiq said they had already started discussions even before the elections.
“There are a lot more commonalities than differences, specifically issues that are of common interest,” Syed Saddiq told reporters at the Muda headquarters here yesterday.
“Where we can collaborate, we should collaborate but we have already been communicating and agreed to a meeting. And we look forward to exploring different areas of collaboration.”
On a related matter, Syed Saddiq called for all election candidates to declare their assets ahead of the state elections.
The Muar MP also criticised the current administration, especially those in Cabinet, for not declaring their assets.
“Why are the ministers no longer declaring their assets when the previous Pakatan government had this system? This system was agreed by all.
“Declaring assets is not just during the state elections but also when the candidates hold high positions,” he said.
