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Jokes aside, there are plenty of people out there who dream of becoming elected representatives — from status and influence to salary and perks, the idea of becoming a “Yang Berhormat” is certainly attractive to many.

So, if that’s your ambition, you might actually want to try putting your name forward as a candidate for a political party led by former Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.

The first catch is that applicants must first register as members through the party’s membership portal at https://bersama.org/ms/daftar.

In a press statement today, Bersama — also led by another former Cabinet Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad — said that all confirmed applications will be reviewed by a Candidate Committee.

According to the former Pandan and Setiawangsa MPs, the committee will also examine applicants’ previous political involvement to ensure they do not carry political baggage that is inconsistent with the party’s direction.

After the first screening stage, shortlisted candidates will undergo a second round of vetting involving digital background checks and community-level feedback to assess public perception of the individual.

“Candidates who pass all stages will be considered potential BERSAMA candidates and will be announced in batches from time to time,” the statement read.

Applicants are required to state the parliamentary or state seat they wish to contest. Under the law, state assembly candidates must reside or be registered in the respective state.

Priority screening will be given to finalising candidates for the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

The party also said the candidate application portal will remain open on a continuous basis until Parliament is dissolved.

So, if you’ve ever dreamed of becoming an elected representative — now might be the time to register.

Both Johor and Negeri Sembilan state legislative assemblies were dissolved on June 1 and 4 respectively.

The Election Commission (EC) however have yet to set the exact date for the election in both states.

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