NIBONG TEBAL: Academic qualifications alone cannot be the measure of someone's suitability to become an excellent political leader in the future.
Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said many political leaders in the country do not have high academic qualifications but have succeeded in their roles.
"When you talk about (being) intellectual, it is not merely academic qualification.
"Academic qualification alone does not guarantee an excellent politician. But that doesn't mean no qualification at all.
"There must be a combination and blend of factors," he said when asked on why Abidin's academic qualification was not highlighted this by-election.
Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man when announcing Abidin's candidacy recently said that the latter held "the ISO14001-2015 certification.
"This has led to netizens questioning Abidin's academic credentials.Asked if there was no need for elected representatives to possess academic qualifications,
Sanusi said:"That was not what I said. Don't draw such a conclusion.
"Like I said, there must be a blend of qualifications aside from academic," he added.
Asked if that would pose a challenge for the PN candidate, Sanusi said it would not.
He again reiterated that many elected representatives now do not possess a doctorate degree or even master degree.
Sanusi also dismissed as provocative the notion that Pas does not view academic qualification as a criteria when fielding its candidate.
The by-election for the Sungai Bakap state seat in Penang will see a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan's Joohari and Perikatan Nasional's Abidin.
Announcing this at the close of nomination, returning officer Khairulnizam Hashim confirmed Joohari submitted his nomination paper at 9.03am and Abidin at 9.06am.