Congrats to BN but 'condolences' to MIC, says Anwar's aide
An aide to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has congratulated Ramli Mohd Nor for becoming the first MP from the Orang Asli community after emerging victorious in last night's Cameron Highlands by-election.
At the same time, however, Anwar's private secretary R Suresh Kumar also extended his "condolences" to MIC, as the BN component is now left with a solitary MP in Tapah.
"Ramli's victory in Cameron Highlands is expected...
However, the aide is confident support for Harapan will increase once Anwar becomes PM.
An aide to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has congratulated Ramli Mohd Nor for becoming the first MP from the Orang Asli community after emerging victorious in last night's Cameron Highlands by-election.
At the same time, however, Anwar's private secretary R Suresh Kumar also extended his "condolences" to MIC, as the BN component is now left with a solitary MP in Tapah.
"Ramli's victory in Cameron Highlands is expected. More so because it has always been a BN stronghold.
"So I congratulate Ramli. But, at the same time, I also extend my condolences to MIC for letting go of another seat due to pressure from Umno," he told Malaysiakini today.
"As far as I know, MIC and Umno acting president (Mohamad Hasan) said that the seat was only loaned for this by-election.
"So now that Ramli has won, who will contest the seat in the future? MIC or Umno?"
Suresh claimed that MIC moving to give up its traditional seat shows a lack of self-belief – unlike its BN colleague MCA, which contested under its own logo for the Balakong by-election.
"Now MIC is only left with one parliamentary seat. In future, it would be impossible for the party to reclaim (and contest) the seat.
"It is most likely MIC will be given another parliamentary seat, which, I predict, would be a mixed seat that has always been a Pakatan Harapan stronghold," he said.
'MIC no longer relevant'
For the record, MIC has contested and won the Cameron Highlands seat for BN since 2004, the last through its former Youth chief C Sivarraajh in the 14th general election.
Following the Election Court's ruling that overturned Sivarraajh's victory, it was reported that MIC had loaned the seat to BN – taking into account the current political climate, where a Malay or Muslim candidate was seen as having a better chance of winning.
As Suresh pointed out, Indians voters in Cameron Highlands are still leaning towards Harapan based on last night's results.
"The results of the Cameron Highlands by-election once again showed that MIC is no longer relevant to Indians in Malaysia.
"Although we lost in the by-election, Indian voters are still loyal to us. Not only in Cameron Highlands, but also in Sungai Kandis, Seri Setia, Balakong and the latest in Port Dickson," he said.
Suresh said he believed this trend of support (for Harapan) is a sign that the alleged slander directed towards Harapan leaders did not gain traction among the Indian community.
"I'm confident that Indian support for Harapan will increase after Anwar becomes Malaysia's eighth prime minister," he added.
This guy is already fishing up to Anwar.
MIC is dying a slow death but the monkeys in MIC haven’t figured that out yet. Soon MIC assets will be up for sale!
Anwar's new Indian mandore adding to the existing Indian mandores. Very active in whatsapp viral trying to prove how Anwar is the solution for the Indian community.