MIC: Foolhardy Nazri eroding people’s confidence

Minister urged to stay true to power sharing formula and desist making reckless statements that is certain to cost BN valuable non-Malay votes.

PETALING JAYA: MIC has jumped on the bandwagon in criticising Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, Nazri Abdul Aziz, over his statements critical of BN component parties.

MIC secretary general S Murugesan labelled Nazri’s comments as ‘reckless statements from Barisan Nasional leaders that is costing BN votes and eroding confidence.’

“It also erodes non-Malay confidence in Barisan Nasional as a coalition where other component parties are being edged out,” said Murugesan.

He reminded Nazri of MIC’s contributions in handing over Indian votes to BN in the recent by-elections in Kerdau and Merlimau.

Murugesan urged Nazri to stay true to BN’s power sharing formula.

“If Nazri stays true to BN’s power sharing formula, he would not have issued such irresponsible statements directed all the non-Malay component parties.

MIC youth wing secretary-general, C Shivarrajjh also took umbrage at Nazri’s statements in a two-part interview carried in Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau yesterday.

Shivarrajjh said it was fallacy in government policies which led to MIC performing badly in the 2008 general election.

“For 52 years Indian votes were with BN. You should do an analysis, Nazri,” said Shivarraajh.

In the interview, Nazri called for MIC to hand over all six state seats in Perak which the party had lost in the last general election.

He said BN could lose the state should MIC re-contest in those constituencies. However, a check revealed that the party contested four state seats and two parliamentary seats.

The state seats are Behrang, Hutan Melintang, Sungkai and Pasir Panjang while the two parliamentary seats are Sungai Siput and Tapah. MIC managed to win in only Tapah.

Nazri had also said in the interview if the candidates for next polls are picked on the winnabillity factor, MIC should not contest in these seats.

He said if the largest Indian ethnic party within BN lost all six state seats in the next general election, it can contribute to Pakatan Rakyat’s victory.

Nazri, who is also the Padang Rengas MP, stressed that the party posts of leaders do not guarantee a seat in the general election.

Both the MCA and Gerakan also had blasted Nazri for shooting off the cuff at BN component parties. - FMT