The MIC will intensify efforts to deliver the 235,000 Indian votes in Selangor to the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming 13th general election, said party president G Palanivel.     

"We expect that Indian support towards BN will increase more than 70 per cent in Selangor, especially in rural and sub- urban areas.  

"This is important to wrest back Selangor from the opposition," he told a press conference after attending the foundation stone laying ceremony at Rimba Jaya Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Shah Alam today.     

Palanivel said MIC will also increase its Indian vote-bank within the party by increasing it from the current 400,000 to more than 500,000 votes.     

Meanwhile, Palanivel, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said Najib had approved a RM1 million allocation for the construction of the temple, which is expected to be completed in a year's time.  

In Kuala Lumpur, MIC Youth chief T Mohan said the party hoped the Defence Ministry could give some leeway to Indian youths who wanted to joined the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) but could not do so because they did not have a pass in Bahasa Malaysia in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination.     

Speaking to reporters after witnessing an ATM recruitment drive for Indian youths at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan La Salle in KL today, he said many Indian youths were keen to join ATM but the compulsory pass requirement posed a stumbling block.     

He added that MIC would be making a representation to Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.      

- Bernama