For those hopeful candidates: What to look out for...

For those hopeful MP candidates: What to look out for...

For those hopeful opposition candidates running for Cambodian Parliament Members of National Assembly --in 2013 election.

A few of you, hopeful candidates from overseas, will pour a huge chunk of your hard-earned savings into Cambodia mainly to help finance your political activities hoping to be elected as a Cambodian congressman/woman representing your political party.

You may not be well informed by your Cambodian political team inside Cambodia. They may intentionally keep you in the dark or not giving you some facts fearing that you would not join them or support them.

I am putting this information to help you discover a few important things and my past experience may help you run your campaign more effectively.

It is good that you have a heart to help your country and to help make a difference, I personally commend you for that.  On the other hand, you should know a little better before you go or "get in." Unless you are in politics for some other reasons, you should not let anyone take advantage of your love for your country and our people.

Here are some information:

1-Watch for political boasting or gross exaggeration:

If the numbers of projecting winnable congressional seats is unreal, it surely is.  For example in 2008 HRP's leaders wildly believed and projected that they would definitely win more than 60 seats. It got 3.

If the number is too good to be true, you should know the answer to that. There is no system in place to take a decent poll in Cambodia. There is a difference between motivational speeches and misleading information intended to gain your monetary support. Remember it is not what you know, but what you have that counts. Trust but verify!

2-Look out for the elitists:

Some so-called elite individuals will use their political heredity or influences (former or present positions) to be listed as the top candidates in a certain prime territory where more seats are available . They will use their past and present records to take priority over your qualification and capability. It is unbelievable, but such a practice should be stopped.

These people will pay no or little money to help you with the campaigns. Using their social and political inheritance, they expect the lower ranking candidates to also pay for their expenses including food, hotel room, travel costs for them, their drivers and security guards and more.

As time goes by, be prepared to dig deeper into your pockets.  ATM machines are available everywhere. You will need to fund your territory as well as to feed your party leaders when they visit your province or district.

Local leaders will also become the middlemen or brokers to help you spend your campaign funds at local and national level. Prices are usually marked up to feed the middle men and receipts for expenditures are readily available at your request.

These elites will use their internal connections to push themselves up higher and will kick other people out or around when the election date is nearer. There will be no short of reasons for top leaders to justify their moves. Be cautious! By that time most of your money would be used and you would not have many choices to make.

Competition to be on the top "listing" will be ugly. You may be placed on the top for the beginning, but don't be surprised if later on you would be switched around. Look out for your initial "deposit" and other expenses. I knew a number of people exhausted their funds by being kicked around from place to place.

You should push for a change! No political elites should be honored as such. They must be qualified to lead as well as to share the cost like anyone else.  Most importantly they need to illustrate their good (if not high) morality to show the people that they do love them--not their titles and or positions.

To be continued...

3-Watch for the opportunists:

Other seasonal "positions" or "titles" besides MP candidates like the "titles" of local, provincial and national leaders within the party will be offered at a certain price tag.  The Competition for such positions is fierce and may cause strong resentments and frictions among party's leaders and supporters. Backstabbing may occur without your notice. However, most positions for those who live overseas are merely symbolic.

As for overseas organizers or leaders, you have little power in any decision making processes inside Cambodia. What the party leaders need is your ability to get them financial support . In addition, you need to gather people to come to the meetings, receptions, to hear their political messages and for photo opportunity. Unfortunately restaurant owners or caterers do make more profits than your party does.

You are also expected to raise funds for transportation, hotel cost, food, etc... for your political leaders who come to visit the U.S. and other countries. Some top leaders use this opportunity to visit their family members at your expenses. This must be stopped. They are wasting your hard-earned money--the money that can be used to get more votes inside Cambodia.

Donation given to these leaders is generally concealed and kept for their personal use--not for the party. I find it absurd that donors and recipients are taking the advantage over your generosity. All funds should be transparent.

Look out for some close relatives and friends of certain political leaders, they will join the party for personal business rather than national interests usually for the money.  Many will defect back to their political base after the election is over. Do not believe in the "swearing" practice or ceremony... So far lightning have not struck those who had betrayed their own political party yet. It has become rather a "business as usual" nowadays for those leaders who swear then jump ship (defect.)

Be prepared for the price hiking when the election date is nearer.  The price for infomercial on the radio like radio Sambok Khmum, etc... maybe 50 percent higher.

You may need to hire writers or professional "journalists" to help write and print newspapers for your party and they are not cheap. There are many writers for hire but they are seasonal...

However, make sure you don't fall for the propaganda on the radio or party's newspapers because most news and information are bias and not all true-- many are cut and pasted. Don't get excited. I think half truth are more dangerous than a lie.

The costs of everything else like campaigning materials will be increased as well.... I cannot figure out yet why those people who claim that they love the country so much need to put more burden on you.
 

Can you figure that out?

To be continued...