Ok, so I am pro-Opposition, but...

1) ...even I don't believe in this idealistic proposal...

As I said earlier, PKR's proposal of a RM1500/month minimum wage is unrealistic. It likely does reflect the amount needed to live in Malaysia, but I hear RM1500/month is what fresh bachelors' graduates from fancy US universities make.

What about the "masses"? Jobstreet's Salary Report states entry-level cashiers make RM600-RM900 per month. Entry-level teachers make RM700-RM1600 a month, increasing to RM1200-RM2100 for mid-level teachers. You have to figure that many people at mid-level positions will by then have extra mouths to feed, so they would have to set aside a big chunk for diapers and a maid.

The point is, millions of people are working at jobs that pay way under RM1500 a month. Imposing a minumum wage of that level will put a lot of small businesses in big trouble. Imagine all the mom-n-pop, or makcik-n-pakcik and auntie-n-uncle shops that will have to tutup kedai.

2) ...what credentials do these people have exactly?

Malaysiakini reported on a couple of young PKR candidates who are making their election debut.

Loh Gwo Burne was living in China when the Lingam-gate scandal broke and he was called back home to testify on his role as the secret camera-man. While I commend his decision to become politically active, I would want to know if he plans on going back to his life in China? Or split his time somehow if he were an MP? Dude, when was the last time you were back in Subang Jaya? Contesting a parliamentary seat lagi... what do you know about Malaysian politics, other than it's dirty?

Hannah Yeoh, contesting in Subang Jaya's state seat, said, "I’m racing against time in these two weeks. Give me your votes first. We can work out the issues later. I will do what you want me to do in the next five years. Two weeks (of campaigning) is not enough."

Agreed. Two weeks of campaigning is ridiculously short. But lady, how can I give you my vote if I don't know what you're going to do?? She did state "security and crime" as the issues she would tackle. And surprisingly, the Star did a better job of reporting on her, or perhaps she was better prepared after the Malaysiakini interview. Of course, being pretty always helps, especially when it comes to the media.

Bit of advice, people: Use the internet. Have a personal political website that states your visions, your convictions, and publicize the hell out of it. Send mass-emails, mass-sms'es. Let everyone know you are serious about being a representative of the people, not just hot-hot chicken s**t!

Update on Feb 28th: My fault for not searching for the candidates' blog sites earlier. Sometimes when it's 4am and you have to be up at 6:30am all you want to do is publish the post and worry about it later!

Here is Helen Ang writing on her reservations regarding Loh Gwo Burne's candidacy.

Here is Loh Gwo Burne's website. I had to scroll almost all the way to the bottom of the page before I found his explanation for standing for office. Am not impressed with the website; it's a Readers' Digest-type collection of articles and graphics, but lacks his voice.

Here is Hannah Yeoh's site. We get to meet the candidate and hear her voice, but you have to go to her manager, Edward Ling's website for the details on where Hannah will be speaking, how to donate to her campaign and such.