PKR more careful in selecting candidates in 'traitor' seats

AMPANG - PKR is more careful about putting candidates in seats labelled as 'traitors' such as Ampang and Gombak.

Ampang Parliament coordinator Rodziah Ismail said that candidate criteria were tightened and the aspect of loyalty became a priority in the selection of PKR representatives in the Parliament.

Rodziah said she welcomed 'heavyweight' and 'solid' candidates with higher chance of winning if they compete in Ampang.

"Regarding candidates, PKR emphasises the balance between male, female and youth representatives.

“In addition, the candidate's suitability is also a consideration.

"Loyalty is the main factor so that the incident of party hopping in Ampang does not happen again.

“It is not just a matter of party hopping but it has caused the collapse of the government, so the candidate criteria are tightened," she said at the Ampang Heritage Fun Run program in Kampung Baru Ampang here on Friday.

When asked to comment on her name being mentioned as a candidate for the Ampang seat in the 15th General Election (GE15), Rodziah viewed that as a joke since the party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has not released the list of GE15 candidates which was expected to be announced in October.

However, she said, she was ready to take on the responsibility based on her three-term experience of holding the Batu Tiga Assembly Member's seat.

"I cannot answer who the potential candidates are because that is the president's prerogative, but the party has designated Ampang as one of the seats that need attention.

"If Ampang is given the women's seat, I leave it to the party to decide. My responsibility now is to make sure preparations for GE15 are done as well as possible," she said.

She emphasised that whether she was nominated or otherwise was not a priority since she never chose a location to compete.

"Actually, it is up to the party leadership to name, and I have never 'booked' a place to contest. If I am told to contest, I am ready.

“Wherever I am given a place, I will be ready to serve, if there is none, no problem," she said.