Zahid: Integrity checks to be conducted on BN candidates by special unit and MACC

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional candidates in the 14th general election will be subjected to integrity checks conducted by a special task unit in collaboration with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

 

Dr Ahmad Zahid added that each state has sent a complete line-up of its candidates to contest in parliamentary and state seats in the coming polls that must be called by August.

 

"However, there are a few layers of integrity checks that are currently being conducted and this includes medical reports," said Dr Ahmad Zahid.

 

He said this is to avoid the possibility of by-elections occurring shortly after the 14th General Election.

 

"Voters will also look at a candidate's personality. So, a candidate must be clean and be perceived to be clean," he added when speaking to reporters on Tuesday after the "Building a nation of Integrity" forum held at the Malaysian Institute of Integrity.

 

When asked what happens to the candidate if he or she does not pass Barisan's integrity checks, Dr Ahmad Zahid merely answered that "we will say goodbye to them".

 

He said that Barisan would have no qualms when it comes to dropping problematic candidates as it has a list of replacement candidates.

 

"We also have conducted tests on our reserve candidates based on the voters' acceptance and integrity," said Dr Ahmad Zahid.