‘Three weeks ideal for candidate nominations’

GEORGE TOWN: It would be ideal to hold nominations of candidates about three weeks after the dissolution of state legislative assemblies, says caretaker Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.

This would give political parties enough time to organise and activate their election machinery, he said.

Chow, who is Penang Pakatan Harapan chairman, said several matters need to be undertaken by parties after the dissolution, including drawing up their election manifesto, appointing polling station and counting centre agents, and preparing publicity materials.

“Once nominations are over, the election campaign machinery will get moving, with face-to-face visits to voters, distribution of leaflets, and use of social media to get our message across to voters.

“We need to organise these activities because they have their own processes, like what needs to be prioritised,” he said.

On another matter, he said that a list of DAP election candidates that was being circulated is fake.

He said party members, supporters and voters should not be taken in by the fake list.

The state DAP, he said, has just completed its interviews with the party’s incumbent assemblymen.

“A five-person candidate selection panel concluded the process on Wednesday,” he said in a statement.

Chow, who is Penang DAP chairman, said he sat on the panel with state DAP deputy chairman P. Ramasamy, vice-chairmen Jagdeep Singh Deo and Zairil Khir Johari and state party secretary Lim Hui Ying.

“Accordingly, the panel will meet soon to deliberate and decide on the potential candidates.”

Only the DAP central executive committee can announce the final list of candidates, he said.