KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 – Umno should decide on its election candidates much earlier, at least two months before a general election to ensure that they were truly winnable, said Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
He said besides this, candidate selection should also be done more systematically and follow set criterias to ensure only those who made the cut were chosen.
“In determining winnable candidates, the party leadership must justify why they were winnable and the factors considered in selecting them and not just based on age, but also their productivity,” he told reporters at his office at the Sultan Abdul Samad Building here today.
He said this when asked if Umno needed to make changes in facing the challenges of the 21st century. Rais also said by deciding on candidates earlier, it would help avoid problems of dissatisfied candidates at the eleventh hour. He added that if it came down to age versus productivity, obviously the second was the more important consideration.
BERNAMA
