MIC WOULD have won the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in the last three elections if Umno managed to canvass Malay votes for the party.
“But they didn’t and couldn’t as there was a strong anti-Barisan Nasional (BN) sentiment across the whole nation.
“And don’t forget that Sungai Siput was an exemplary constituency when Tun S Samy Vellu was its parliamentarian. His services to the local folks were beyond the borders of party, race and religion,” MIC youth chief R Thinalan told FocusM.
Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported Sungai Siput Puteri Umno chief Norazura Abdul Karim as saying that MIC should let Umno to contest the seat in the next general election.
She made the statement via Facebook, arguing that MIC had failed to retake the seat since losing the seat in the 2008 general election.
“Sungai Siput was represented by MIC in every election, starting with Tun VT Sambanthan and then Samy Vellu up until 2008, but in the last three elections, MIC has been unable to win the seat.
“With a total of around 12,000 Indian voters (out of 55,002), MIC has not been able to return the seat to BN.
“Therefore, Sungai Siput Puteri Umno thinks it’s time for BN to hand over Sg Siput seat for Umno to contest,” she was reported saying.
Calling it a desperate attempt, Thinalan said that Norazura was merely trying to conceal its chapter’s own weakness by making the call, while seeking cheap publicity at the same time.
“Is she aware or respect the BN consensus? BN consists of Umno, MCA and MIC – representing the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities, respectively.
‘Norazura’s statement is unwanted and untimely. Strengthen your own party first in view of the current tussles in Umno, instead of coming up with publicity stunts for political mileage,” he lashed out.
On related matter, MIC Wanita chief SJ Usha Nadhini said she was disappointed by Norazura’s statement, adding the latter was clearly oblivious to MIC’s contribution to the constituency for decades.
“Traditionally, the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat has always been held by MIC presidents. Our current president, Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran is doing a lot of work there for the last one year.
“And he is serving everyone there, irrespective of race and religion. The people there knows this,” she stated.
Calling Norazura’s statement immature, Usha said that such a call should at least come from the National Puteri Umno wing, not the local leader there.
“She must remember that seat allocation is decided by BN’s top leadership. So, please have some respect for them.
“But as far as MIC is concerned, we’re prepared for any eventualities, as advised by our leaders,” she remarked. – March 30, 2021.
