The team behind the MY-Adun portal where voters can access comprehensive information on all the candidates contesting in the state elections. Seated from left are Ifran, Yong, Phang, Rajiv and Arveent.
WITH campaigning for the state elections having kicked off following nomination day on Saturday, staying updated on the candidates is especially important.
Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM) has launched the My-Adun Portal, an online platform that supplies voters with relevant information on the candidates for state assemblymen in Selangor.
As a coalition of 29 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and citizen-based organisations, GBM developed the portal independently, hoping to provide unbiased information of all candidates to the people.
Using the portal, a voter can access information regarding candidates’ background, their track record with community issues and manifestos promised.
The website will also include news articles where the candidates are mentioned in, categorised by political news, legal action and community events.
Besides making use of information found through public domains, GBM will contact candidates to obtain their views on social, environmental and development issues, said GBM chairman Stanley Yong.
“We’re beginning to see that the people of this country are starting to embrace their rights and take ownership of their place in the nation.
“It’s important to provide everyone with as much information as possible so voters don’t go into the elections blindly.
“We hope that the My-Adun portal will encourage citizens to come out and exercise their right to vote, feeling sufficiently equipped to choose their state representatives,” he said.
GBM exco member Jeffrey Phang who acted as the My-Adun project leader said the portal would be regularly updated and remain available post-election as well.
“After the state elections, the portal will continue monitoring state assemblymen for the next five years,” he said.
“We’ll keep in close contact with all ADUNs and strive to provide people with updates throughout the whole term.”
GBM treasurer Jusni Yusoff said citizens must understand the power they hold and should stand up and take responsibility for their choices.
“The whole team involved in this project are volunteers and we run this independently, we are not affiliated with any party.
“This was started by the people, for the people, and we hope it will push our countrymen to actively educate themselves before voting,” he added.
Present at the launch were incumbent Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran, Muda representative Irfan Rendrawan and Parti Sosialis Malaysia youth chief Arveent Kathirtchelvan.
The three presented a brief preview of their respective parties’ manifestos and were supportive of the portal’s mission.
