KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) will not field candidates who are facing charges in court for the 15th general election (GE15), says secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin.
He said PN’s candidates would have to undergo screening by the police, the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and the insolvency department.
“We want candidates who are truly ‘clean’. We have submitted the names of our candidates to these agencies for background checks.
“Let’s see if other parties will do the same,” he said during a press conference in Cheras.
Hamzah added that it was important for PN to field “clean” candidates so that their integrity would not be questioned in future.
He was asked about PN’s criteria for selection of candidates for GE15 and whether they would undergo stringent screening like Umno’s candidates.
The former Larut MP also rejected opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s proposal for a debate among candidates for the prime minister’s post from PN, Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional.
He said it was better to let the people decide on the prime minister they want to manage the economy and ensure the nation’s stability.
Yesterday, caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob refused the offer to debate saying it was not part of Malaysia’s political culture.
In response, Anwar said he found Ismail’s answer incredulous, given that debates were even encouraged in schools and by scholars.
“And what do we do in Parliament? Debate, of course. So, Ismail, what era are you living in?” he asked.