The Gerakan party will enter a pact with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to ensure that only corruption- free candidates are eligible to contest in the 14th general election (GE14).

Its president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said the agreement with MACC expected to be signed in January next year was to identify corruption-free candidates that would stand as party candidates for the 45 parliamentary and state seats.

"In the 13th general election, Gerakan contested in 11 parliamentary and 34 state seats," he told reporters after a briefing and dialogue session with the MACC at the party's headquarters here Saturday.

He said MACC would vet the candidates and make an announcement on those who had passed the MACC screening.

The party's central committee had decided that names of those who failed in the MACC screening would be removed from the Gerakan candidate list, he said.

Mah added that under the agreement, MACC would also hold anti-corruption programmes such as talks, training sessions and briefings for party leaders and potential candidates in strengthening integrity and to give members a better understanding of corruption issues.

He hoped all political parties would organise similar programmes with the MACC to overcome the people's negative perception of political parties.

Meanwhile MACC deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil, in commending Gerakan for their effort, said other political parties could also submit their list of candidates to ensure they were free of corruption.

"MACC has been helping political parties hold special courses for high level and grassroot members to make them aware of the role and responsibilities of MACC and at the same time work together to fight corruption," he said. -- Bernama