The screening of candidates for political parties is not a common practice in Asia, but industry insiders have urged for more of such processes to ensure due diligence.
Advertisement
Earlier this month, Singapore’s Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh said his Workers’ Party had engaged commercial vendors to assist in candidate screening and personality reviews ahead of the general election.
Singapore will take to the polls this year, with a November deadline drawing closer.
Speaking at a members’ forum, Singh said of the screening procedure: “Of course, none of these measures are foolproof, nor can they guarantee that all previous infractions of an individual will come to light. It is important that I set this expectation. But the party will do our best.”
Veremark chief executive Daniel Callaghan said such checks were common in the United States and Britain, but his firm had not screened political parties in Asia.
Advertisement