PUTRAJAYA, March 19 – Candidates to be fielded in 20 of the 28 seats allocated to the MIC in the 13th general election have been finalised, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam(Pic) said today. Subramaniam, who is human resource minister, said the matter was discussed at a meeting between MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel and Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last week.
“Certain issues have to be ironed out for the remaining eight seats,” he told reporters after handing over RM68,005 contributed by the ministry staff to the Tabung Wira Negara Lahad Datu in aid of the families of the policemen and soldiers killed in the Sulu terrorist intrusion in Sabah.
Asked whether he would defend his Segamat parliamentary seat in Johor, Subramaniam said: “I will wait for the announcement by the prime minister.” On the Sulu terrorist intrusion, he said it was a “wake-up call” for everyone not to be complacent and to be always alert to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and peace.
“As Malaysians, we have the duty to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, both in the country and abroad. It is our hope that irresponsible people will not contribute to threats to our sovereignty,” he said.
Subramaniam advised staff of the ministry against spreading rumours about the Sulu terrorist intrusion or belittling the capability of the security forces.
BERNAMA
