PUTRAJAYA, April 4 – Although former MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has declared himself as a ‘winnable candidate’ in the 13th general election (GE13), his position will only be decided by Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and MIC president Datuk G Palanivel.
MIC deputy president Datuk Dr S.Subramaniam said only Najib and Palanivel could decide on the selection of candidates and constituencies representing the party although certain leaders had strong confidence in contesting and ensuring victory for the MIC and BN.
“The question of who will be the candidates and representing which constituencies will be finalised by the MIC president and BN chairman. Anyone can say anything, but only the two leaders have the power to decide (for the MIC),” he told reporters, here today.
Dr Sumbaramanim, who is also the Human Resource Minister, was asked to comment on the statement by Samy Vellu who had expressed his sentiments and strong desire to contest again in the Sungai Siput Parliamentary constituency after failing to defend the seat he had held since 1974, in the 12th general election.
In the 2008 general election, the former works minister lost in Sungai Siput, which had long been an MIC stronghold, to Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj from the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) by a majority of 1,821 votes. Following the dissolution of Parliament by the prime minister yesterday, Samy Vellu, who is the Malaysian special envoy to India and south Asia for
infrastructure, said he was prepared to contest if the prime minister decides that he is the right candidate for the BN component.
BERNAMA
