MIC has suggested that the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership allow it to contest 12 parliamentary seats in the upcoming 15th general election (GE15).
According to party president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran, the party had a chance of winning the seats which he said are not just traditional MIC seats.
“We want a fighting chance…there is a chance for us to win. Why do we want to waste money, our time and all if we can’t contest and can’t win…what is the use?” he was reported as saying by Bernama on the sidelines of the Melaka MIC delegates’ conference last night.
“We can’t just be contesting in our (traditional) parliamentary seats. What about the UMNO parliamentary seats? In managing the BN family, I’m sure they will consider this.”
Vigneswaran noted that to “ensure BN’s victory” MIC “handed over” the Cameron Highlands seat – which it had traditionally held – to UMNO in the 2019 by-election.
He also said MIC was still discussing the state seats it wanted to contest and a list would be submitted to the BN leadership soon.
He said the party’s election machinery was ready to move “more aggressively” to ensure BN’s victory in GE15.
Perak BN chief Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said on Tuesday (Aug 16) that there will be no change to the allocation of seats for each party within the BN coalition for the time being.
Saarani, who is also Perak Menteri Besar, was responding to Vigneswaran’s earlier push to have more candidates from MIC to contest in GE15.
“For us, whichever seats we contest in, there is potential to win. If there is no potential to win, then there is no point contesting,” Saarani said.
“So, any party no matter UMNO, MIC or MCA, whoever is contesting, is to win. Only after winning can we form the government and appoint state executive councilors.
“So, the important thing is they need to make sure they win wherever they contest.”
Saarani also made it clear that for now, each of the BN component parties in Perak would field candidates in the same seats as they did in the 14th general election, whether they won or lost.
He said any change will have to come from the BN central leadership. – Aug 18, 2022
Main photo credit: Malay Mail
