Twentytwo13

‘Rembau Raid’ beyond KJ: Spotlight back on parachute candidates

Khairy Jamaluddin’s revelation that he was asked to vacate his Parliamentary seat in Rembau to make way for Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, has reignited debate about parachute candidates.

Described as the “Rembau Raid” by certain quarters, such a move, however, is not new.

DAP’s Lim Kit Siang was MP in nine constituencies in Melaka, Selangor, Penang, Perak, and Johor. PKR’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was parachuted into Port Dickson five months after receiving a royal pardon, following Pakatan Harapan’s win in the 2018 general election.

Some feel this does not augur well for the constituents who will have to deal with “outsiders” as their MP.

Dr S. Nagarajan, an independent political researcher, says Malaysians tend to vote for the party, and not the individual.

“Whether it is Khairy or Mohamad, the people of Rembau will not lose out, as their MP will enjoy the same support from the party (Umno),” said Nagarajan, a former dean of Open University Malaysia’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.

“Moving candidates around is normal in politics. Each party wants its strongest to be in Parliament, where they can make a difference. Also, people usually vote for the party, not the candidate.

“That is why Kit Siang could move about and contest in several states, yet still win, as the people voted for DAP.”

Nagarajan added that PKR did the same in 2018 when elected Port Dickson MP, Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, resigned in September to allow Anwar to stand in a by-election the following month.

“The people did not lose out because Anwar, although a Penangite, is from the same party (PKR),” said Nagarajan.

“It is different if an MP jumps to another party. That is the true betrayal of the people’s vote.”

Nagarajan believes Khairy can contest elsewhere but if the Health Minister thinks he has a strong case for staying in Rembau, Khairy could make a stand within Umno.

“Let’s face facts. Khairy won the seat because he is from Umno. It is as simple as that. Whoever stands as an Umno candidate will win,” said Nagarajan.

“Khairy was quoted as saying he would make way for Mohamad and allow him to stand in Rembau. But if Khairy feels strongly enough, he can ask Mohamad to move elsewhere.

“Alternatively, Khairy can stand as an independent against Mohamad and see which way the people will vote.”

Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research and International Studies director, Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk, said the quality of parachute candidates matters.

“Urban voters have matured in recent times. While they still favour one party and tend to stick to it, they now scrutinise candidates thoroughly,” Azeem said.

“The origins or the background of the candidate does not matter. What counts is how popular or well-known he, or she, is to the voters and whether that translates to winning votes.

“So, if a party wants to bring a new face, it will not matter if the candidate is from a different district or state.”

Azeem said that Mohamad, a former menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan, is likely to win anywhere he runs in the state in the next general elections.

”It does not have to be Rembau, even though that is the seat he is said to be eyeing.”