MIC to field women candidates

'I am not going to remove the 'roses' from the list,' says Palanivel.

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president G Palanivel has given an assurance that the party would also select women as candidates in the coming general election (GE).

He hoped Wanita MIC members would dismiss unfounded rumours that the party would not field female candidates in the GE.

“I will, of course, choose women candidates. It’s only fair for us to give such opportunity to the women’s wing. The selection of candidates will be a key element in re-energising MIC and Barisan Nasional.

“I am not going to remove the ‘roses’ from the list of candidates,” he said when launching Wanita MIC’s election machinery at the party headquarters here today.

An online news provider had, on Aug 23, published a report suggesting that Palanivel would not field any woman candidate.
It stated that in the 2008 polls, MIC fielded four women candidates for a parliamentary seat and three state seats.

Later, at a press conference, Palanivel, who is also minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, urged Wanita MIC members to get in touch with schools, non-governmental organisations, temples and other relevant authorities to better understand the needs of the Indian community.

Meanwhile, Wanita MIC chief Komala Krishnamoorthy said the wing hoped it would be given an opportunity to contest in the GE.

- Bernama