MCLM man to contest as 'pro-Pakatan' candidate
Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement’s (MCLM) choice as Kapar candidate in the next general election is determined to contest despite chairperson Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s statement otherwise.
RPK’s claims has not affected Dr Nedunchelian Vengu’s determination to run in his home constituency of Kapar.
Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement’s (MCLM) choice as Kapar candidate in the next general election is determined to contest despite chairperson Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s statement otherwise.
Dr Nedunchelian Vengu (right) said Raja Petra’s interview with New Straits Times (NST) last weekend claiming that MCLM would not field any candidates in the next GE has not affected his decision to stand in the Selangor constituency.
“I wish to state that despite the statement by the (MCLM) chairman, I will still contest for the Kapar parliamentary seat and I shall do so as a pro-Pakatan Rakyat independent candidate.
“Raja Petra’s statement has in no way affected my earlier decision to stand for elections,” said Nedunchelian in a statement today.
The 43-year-old dentist from Kapar said he had passed MCLM’s “stringent vetting” and received the group’s endorsement as a “winnable candidate”.
The present MP for Kapar is PKR's S Manikavasagam.
“Kapar is my hometown and it is only right that a local represent his constituency so as to serve the people better.
“I am a community leader there appointed by the Klang District Office, under the initiative of Economic Planning Unit of selangor government,” said Nedunchelian.
He is one of a number of independents that MCLM announced as candidates for the next general election.
In a weekend interview with the pro-government English daily, reproduced in Malaysia Today and Umno-linked Malay daily Mingguan Malaysia, Raja Petra had claimed that MCLM would not field any candidates in the coming GE.
His statements, that included attacks against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, provoked then MCLM president Haris Ibrahim to quit his post in a huff.
Two of the earliest candidates to be announced for the programme, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and Sreekant Pillai, also announced today that they have pulled out over the Raja Petra interview.
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