JOHOR BARU, June 3 — The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) has identified the party’s potential candidates based on an assessment of their strength and potential to contest in the six states set for elections.

Muda deputy president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz said the process was important to identify the states that the party would field candidates.

She said this was especially so in areas with a strong party following, such as in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang.

"If we plan to discuss the issue of seat distribution to any component parties in the unity government, we have to first resolve on the candidates first.

"So, for Muda, we have already completed the assessment of potential candidates within our own party.

"Muda has identified the candidates’ strengths and also the potential states that we are likely to compete in,” Amira Aisya told reporters after the launch of the Tebrau Muda Legal Clinic at the Toppen Shopping Centre here today.

Also present were Johor Muda chief Azrol Rahani and Tebrau Muda parliamentary leader Charles Raj.

However, Amira Aisya said the party’s central committee has yet to reach a final decision on the candidates.

She said Muda’s election committee has already been set up and party will soon announce the election director.

Amira Aisya, who is also the Puteri Wangsa state assemblyman, said that the announcement will only be made after the seat negotiations by Muda were finalised.

"Only then the matter will be taken up to the next stage for discussion with the component parties within the unity government,” she said.

Amira Aisya said the party’s leadership has already met with the election machinery in the states involved for the polls, while the decision to contest in the east coast states will be determined soon.

"At present, we have already completed an assessment of our strategy for the elections.

"The party’s central leadership will later decide to either contest in urban or rural areas of the particular state,” she said.

Amira Aisya said Muda has been preparing for the state elections ever since the recent general election last year, as the party is aware that polls for the six states involved would be held by this year.

"So, the states involved in the state elections have already been gearing up, especially in Selangor, Penang, and Negeri Sembilan that have a strong Muda base,” she said.

On the launch of the Tebrau Muda Legal Clinic, Amira Aisya said the party will open mobile counters in other places in the district to provide free legal advice for those in need.

She explained that the legal clinic provides legal aid as well as explanation to increases the awareness of low-income communities regarding civil law, rental agreements, domestic violence, crime, summonses, divorce matters, children’s rights and also company law.