MCLM to field 30 candidates in 13th GE

The Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) led by self-imposed exile blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, planned to field 30 candidates to contest in the next general election in Malaysia.

MCLM president Haris Ibrahim (left) said the candidates would contest parliamentary seats as independents because MCLM was a non-political party.

"We have engaged a risk management agency (private investigator) to run background checks including the biodata, assets and financial status, as well as surveillance on the possible candidates," he told an MCLM dialogue with Malaysians residing in Bangkok, last night.


He said MCLM, which was formed in 2004, had yet to get approval from the Registrar of Societies but they had legalised the movement in London, in October last year.

Haris said he would not contest in the general election as he had to campaign for the candidates.

Raja Petra, founder and editor of online news blog Malaysia Today and also the chairman of MCLM, said: "We want to change the government but not to be the government. We want to be part of the movement to change the government."

He said MCLM was in the process to set up its chapters in major cities in the world. Thailand is the movement's third stop after Australia and New Zealand.

Raja Petra (right) fled Malaysia in 2008 after being charged with defaming three people including the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor through his statutory declaration in connection with the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

During the dialogue, he reiterated his stand that he was wrongly charged as he did not make the allegation against them but against his source, a military colonel who fed him the information.

Raja Petra said the movement was forwarding the Malaysian agenda for the country and it was not a racial agenda.

"For example, MCLM can mobilise anti-ISA (Internal Security Act) demonstrations all over the major cities in the world simultaneously with Kuala Lumpur in future," said Haris.

- Bernama