By Mohd Noor Firdaus Mohd Azil
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Fielding more new faces and retaining experienced but "winnable" candidates might prove to be a sensible approach in the seat allocation formula for the ruling coalition in the 13th general election, analysts said.
This might be among the approaches to be taken under the new formula which Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced recently, saying the BN would make "adjustments" to the formula.
The adjustments might see changes, such as having a higher number of new faces, in line with the political transformation programme of his administration and indicating the preparedness of the existing leadership to groom younger leaders to maturity.
Universiti Teknologi Mara's Associate Prof Shahrudin Badarudin foresees that the new formula would not significantly depart from the present system, saying the consensus-based formula has proven to be a source of strength for the coalition.
He noted that Najib might reduce or increase the seats on the basis of which candidates can actually win elections, but would not risk making too drastic of an adjustment.
"The component parties will get more or less a similar number of seats as in the last general election. But the issue is where the seat swaps will take place," he told Bernama when contacted.
He foresees "a strong possibility" of an increase in the number of new faces, thus providing a large pool of back-up leaders to the existing ones.
Furthermore, he said, there might be a possibility that age and health becomes a criteria in choosing candidates, in view of the high number of by-elections held following the death of incumbents.
"This is important so as not to disrupt the smooth-running of the administration. Death is, of course, in the hands of Allah, but it is essential to take these factors into account to avoid by-elections," he said.
On the possibility of fielding candidates who are not members of any party -- or what is termed as using "parachute candidates" -- Shahrudin said this approach is at times needed, especially in the event that a seat is too much in demand by fellow component members.
"When there are disputes among component parties, or within a party, on who should be candidates for parliamentary or state assembly seats, then the winnable candidates may potentially come from the outside, and they are not necessarily politicians," he said.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently said that choosing parachute candidates from among the highly educated and professionally experienced was still an acceptable practice in the current political environment.
Dr Mahathir said such individuals would be capable of effectively carrying out their assigned tasks, especially in making the government administration run more smoothly.
"We still need parachute candidates; we cannot reject the practice. When I was prime minister, Tun Daim Zainuddin (former finance minister) was made a parachute candidate, as we were aware of his capabilities," he said in an earlier report.
Also, 4B Youth Supreme Council member Badrul Hisham Badrudin said more new faces should be fielded, taking into account the trend in past by-elections.
He added, the trend was seen as being used among the opposition pact, which saw many young candidates winning in elections.
"These young candidates received the support of the electors because they fulfilled the criteria as winnable candidates.
"Whether this trend could be accepted with an open heart by the upper echelon of the leadership remains to be seen, but the prime minister has repeatedly reminded component members of the need to remain united and avoid sabotaging whoever is made the candidate," he said.
He expects the younger generation to be receptive to the new formula, as it will offer a signal that the BN is prepared to open up a wider opportunity for them in the national transformation process.
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Fielding more new faces and retaining experienced but "winnable" candidates might prove to be a sensible approach in the seat allocation formula for the ruling coalition in the 13th general election, analysts said.
This might be among the approaches to be taken under the new formula which Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced recently, saying the BN would make "adjustments" to the formula.
The adjustments might see changes, such as having a higher number of new faces, in line with the political transformation programme of his administration and indicating the preparedness of the existing leadership to groom younger leaders to maturity.
Universiti Teknologi Mara's Associate Prof Shahrudin Badarudin foresees that the new formula would not significantly depart from the present system, saying the consensus-based formula has proven to be a source of strength for the coalition.
He noted that Najib might reduce or increase the seats on the basis of which candidates can actually win elections, but would not risk making too drastic of an adjustment.
"The component parties will get more or less a similar number of seats as in the last general election. But the issue is where the seat swaps will take place," he told Bernama when contacted.
He foresees "a strong possibility" of an increase in the number of new faces, thus providing a large pool of back-up leaders to the existing ones.
Furthermore, he said, there might be a possibility that age and health becomes a criteria in choosing candidates, in view of the high number of by-elections held following the death of incumbents.
"This is important so as not to disrupt the smooth-running of the administration. Death is, of course, in the hands of Allah, but it is essential to take these factors into account to avoid by-elections," he said.
On the possibility of fielding candidates who are not members of any party -- or what is termed as using "parachute candidates" -- Shahrudin said this approach is at times needed, especially in the event that a seat is too much in demand by fellow component members.
"When there are disputes among component parties, or within a party, on who should be candidates for parliamentary or state assembly seats, then the winnable candidates may potentially come from the outside, and they are not necessarily politicians," he said.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently said that choosing parachute candidates from among the highly educated and professionally experienced was still an acceptable practice in the current political environment.
Dr Mahathir said such individuals would be capable of effectively carrying out their assigned tasks, especially in making the government administration run more smoothly.
"We still need parachute candidates; we cannot reject the practice. When I was prime minister, Tun Daim Zainuddin (former finance minister) was made a parachute candidate, as we were aware of his capabilities," he said in an earlier report.
Also, 4B Youth Supreme Council member Badrul Hisham Badrudin said more new faces should be fielded, taking into account the trend in past by-elections.
He added, the trend was seen as being used among the opposition pact, which saw many young candidates winning in elections.
"These young candidates received the support of the electors because they fulfilled the criteria as winnable candidates.
"Whether this trend could be accepted with an open heart by the upper echelon of the leadership remains to be seen, but the prime minister has repeatedly reminded component members of the need to remain united and avoid sabotaging whoever is made the candidate," he said.
He expects the younger generation to be receptive to the new formula, as it will offer a signal that the BN is prepared to open up a wider opportunity for them in the national transformation process.
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