Butterworth, April 15 – The recent media reports that Datuk Loga Bala Mohan, Penang PPP State Chairman and Deputy Minister for Federal Territories has been appointed as the Coordinator for Indian voters in Permatang Pauh Parliamentary Constituency has caused some discontentment in MIC and in a press statement released, the Deputy Chairman of MIC Penang State Liaison Committee Dato Henry Benedict Asirvatham (pic) said “the decision is not acceptable to the MIC”.
“MIC is the third largest party in Barisan Nasional (BN) and a founder coalition partner. It is the sole and dominant party in BN representing the interests of Indians in this country. By tradition, MIC has always been appointed as the Coordinator for Indian voters for BN in by-elections and general elections. Therefore, we wish to register our strong condemnation for ignoring and by-passing MIC when comes to Indian votes” said Henry who is also the Chairman of MIC Bagan Division Congress.
“As the Deputy Chairman of MIC Penang State Liaison Committee and Division chairman of MIC, I strongly condemn the decision to appoint a PPP leader as the coordinator for Indian voters as it is an affront to MIC’s role in BN. We may have our leadership struggle within the party but when comes to the Indian community and Indian voters, our MIC branches have always served with dedication throughout the year for the betterment of Indian voters in any constituency whether it is Permatang Pauh or elsewhere. Some parties claiming to be multi-racial have not worked the manner we have worked on the ground to ensure Indian voters support and remain with Barisan Nasional” Henry further said in his statement.
“Not about the qualities of Loga Bala Mohan”
Henry also clarified in his statement that his objection to the appointment of Loga Bala Mohan (pic) is not personal and that he is not questioning the leadership qualities of the PPP leader.
“Datuk Loga Bala Mohan is a personal friend of mine and I have known him to be a leader with excellent qualities. Therefore our rejection of him as the Coordinator is not based on his personal abilities but we put our party’s interest above everyone else. We are only concerned with the deterioration of our party’s influence and diminishing role in an important by-election such as Permatang Pauh” Henry noted.
There are about 4,500 Indian voters in Permatang Pauh who would add significant strength to BN’s campaign to capture the seat. With overwhelming sympathy for Anwar Ibrahim prevailing in Permatang Pauh, BN needs to show at least a reduced majority to tell the country that the imprisonment of Anwar Ibrahim has not affected the voter sentiments in Permatang Pauh.
“However, with the appointment of a PPP leader as the Coordinator for Indian voters we are afraid that the MIC branches will not extend their usual cooperation and dedication expected from them. MIC members in Permatang Pauh are also not expected to support the decision of BN to appoint a PPP leader for the Indian voters in the constituency and this will further drive away Indian voters from BN” claimed Henry, who also won as a Central Working Committee (CWC) member in the MIC’s elections held in 2013.
“Therefore, I urge the Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak to immediately intervene in this matter and to withdraw the appointment of Datuk Loga Bala Mohan as the Coordinator and instead appoint MIC as the Coordinator for Indian votes in Permatang Pauh. If this is not done, then the BN campaign in the by-election would have a negative impact as far as the Indian votes are concerned” warned Henry.
“I also would like to point out to the BN leadership that as a result of the PPP’s appointment as the Coordinator for the Indian voters, BN will lose more votes than it experienced in 2013 general election. As far as the MIC is concerned we will not compromise with any quarters when comes to representing the interests of Indian community and Indian voters” Henry said categorically in his press statement.
