KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 – MIC has finalised the names of candidates for nine Parliament and 19 state assembly seats ahead of the coming 13th General Election said its Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam(pic). The MIC, a component party of Barisan Nasional (BN) said the allocation of seats was finalised after a series of discussions although initially there was a little uncertainty on the choice of candidates, he said.
Subramaniam said although the MIC had finalised the candidates, there could one or two changes in the choice of seats with BN component parties before the final announcement.
“We will make a final decision after discussing the possibility discreetly, unlike the opposition who openly clash over issue of seats in the public,” he told reporters after attending a memorial gathering for his late Press Secretary B. Sivam, who was killed in an accident, last month.
Sivam, 35, and a driver from the Ministry of Human Resources were killed when their Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) was involved in an accident at KM232 of the North South Expressway, near Rembau, on Feb 28. In the 2008 General Election, the MIC won three Parliament seats, namely Tapah, Cameron Highlands and Segamat and later recaptured the Hulu Selangor seat during a by-election.
The 2008 General Election, also known as the ‘Tsunami’ saw the MIC win the Asahan state seat in Melaka; Gambir, Kahang, Permas, Tenggaroh (Johor); Sabai (Pahang) and Jeram Padang (Negeri Sembilan). Speaking of the prayer for Sivam, Subramaniam said it was held to enable people to pay their last respects for the late Sivam who was also proficient in
Tamil literature, having written poems, short stories and essays.
“He (Sivam) was a loyal and dedicated staff. Those were among qualities that brought me close to him. We were very close and his demise remains a big loss to me until today,” said an emotional Subramaniam.
BERNAMA
