MIC to turn the tables for the polls
Published: Feb 13, 2008 9:57 AM | Updated: Feb 13, 2008 9:58 AM
MIC will introduce a number of new faces in the coming general election but they need not necessarily be young people, said its president S Samy Vellu today.
MIC will introduce a number of new faces in the coming general election but they need not necessarily be young people, said its president S Samy Vellu today.
Promising that there was a surprise in store when he reveals his list of candidates, Samy Vellu said that the party’s candidates would be those who understand the people and their problems.
"You will see a lot of new faces. You will be surprised when you get the final approval from the PM on the candidates. We are actually turning the tables," he said, as quoted by Bernama today.
"...if you put very young people, they don't know the tendency of politics. It is not a question of age but the heart and mind to take care of the people. Those who understand the people and their problems would be good candidates,” he added.
Samy Vellu was also asked if the timing for the dissolution of Parliament today was right, to which he said: "Issues exist everywhere, every time. It is up to the capacity and capability of the politicians to handle it...I think we have the experience to handle it."
MIC and Samy Vellu have been under severe pressure in recent months following a wave of discontentment among the Indian community over their backwardness.
However Samy Vellu said he was confident that the majority of the Indian community would vote for the ruling BN in the election.
"The Indian community are strong voters of the BN but some people have brought up certain things, saying marginalisation (of Indians) and many other things.
"But I must say that the BN leadership has taken good care of that. The prime minister and the deputy prime minister have made several announcements to say that everything will be taken care of. I don't think in any other country will the prime minister come down to such a level to say that the issues will be taken care of.
"I know both of them. When they say something, they will do it. I'm very happy about what they have said but at the same time I must say that it is not that the Indian community is 50 years backward...maybe five years backward," he added.
Accreditation for university
He also said that MIC was ready "anytime, anywhere" to contest and retain the party’s nine parliamentary and 19 state seats.
"A few people have come to my office introducing themselves as candidates. I take their pictures but tell them to be a bit patient...however, we have completed the list to get approval from the prime minister. If we get his approval, we will announce his decision (on the candidates)," he said.
Earlier, as part of the government’s recent spade of goodies for the community, the Health Ministry issued an accreditation letter for the MIC-run Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University.
Previously Samy Vellu also announced that the government had approved a RM20 million package for the rebuilding and expansion of 23 Tamil schools in the country.
On Feb 3, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak admitted that the Indian community had legitimate grievances and promised to do more for them, including offering more government jobs and greater access to public universities.
Much earlier, on Jan 20, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi finally declared a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur for Thaipusam, a move which was widely seen by many as offering an olive branch to the ethnic Indian community following months of dissent.
Many segments of the community and the opposition have called on Samy Vellu to step down from his post and not to contest in the coming general election.
While Samy Vellu himself has not said anything about his own candidacy, party insiders are confident that the veteran would defend his Sungai Siput parliamentary seat which he has been holding since 1974.
Promising that there was a surprise in store when he reveals his list of candidates, Samy Vellu said that the party’s candidates would be those who understand the people and their problems.
"You will see a lot of new faces. You will be surprised when you get the final approval from the PM on the candidates. We are actually turning the tables," he said, as quoted by Bernama today."...if you put very young people, they don't know the tendency of politics. It is not a question of age but the heart and mind to take care of the people. Those who understand the people and their problems would be good candidates,” he added.
Samy Vellu was also asked if the timing for the dissolution of Parliament today was right, to which he said: "Issues exist everywhere, every time. It is up to the capacity and capability of the politicians to handle it...I think we have the experience to handle it."
MIC and Samy Vellu have been under severe pressure in recent months following a wave of discontentment among the Indian community over their backwardness.
However Samy Vellu said he was confident that the majority of the Indian community would vote for the ruling BN in the election.
"The Indian community are strong voters of the BN but some people have brought up certain things, saying marginalisation (of Indians) and many other things.
"But I must say that the BN leadership has taken good care of that. The prime minister and the deputy prime minister have made several announcements to say that everything will be taken care of. I don't think in any other country will the prime minister come down to such a level to say that the issues will be taken care of.
"I know both of them. When they say something, they will do it. I'm very happy about what they have said but at the same time I must say that it is not that the Indian community is 50 years backward...maybe five years backward," he added.
Accreditation for university
He also said that MIC was ready "anytime, anywhere" to contest and retain the party’s nine parliamentary and 19 state seats.
"A few people have come to my office introducing themselves as candidates. I take their pictures but tell them to be a bit patient...however, we have completed the list to get approval from the prime minister. If we get his approval, we will announce his decision (on the candidates)," he said.
Earlier, as part of the government’s recent spade of goodies for the community, the Health Ministry issued an accreditation letter for the MIC-run Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University.
Previously Samy Vellu also announced that the government had approved a RM20 million package for the rebuilding and expansion of 23 Tamil schools in the country.
On Feb 3, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak admitted that the Indian community had legitimate grievances and promised to do more for them, including offering more government jobs and greater access to public universities.
Much earlier, on Jan 20, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi finally declared a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur for Thaipusam, a move which was widely seen by many as offering an olive branch to the ethnic Indian community following months of dissent.Many segments of the community and the opposition have called on Samy Vellu to step down from his post and not to contest in the coming general election.
While Samy Vellu himself has not said anything about his own candidacy, party insiders are confident that the veteran would defend his Sungai Siput parliamentary seat which he has been holding since 1974.
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