VOLUNTARY OR FORCED? MIC to swap seats with other component parties

KUALA LUMPUR- MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said the party was interested to swap two state seats in Perak with other Barisan Nasional parties for the coming general election.

He said the MIC would give up the Behrang and Pasir Panjang seats and instead, take up Buntong, which consists of 48 per cent Indian population, and another seat, which was still under negotiation.

He said, in case the MIC did not get the seat which the party requested for in Perak, it would look at Dengkil in Selangor as the second option.

"This is an ongoing discussion. We will not let go of the nine parliamentary and 19 state seats. All will remain with us," Palanivel told reporters after the opening ceremony of the party's 66th annual general assembly held at the Putra World Trade Centre here today.

The day-long event which was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was attended by 1,500 delegates and 2,000 observers.

Palanivel, who is also minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said there was no misunderstanding between him and party leaders on the seat swapping exercise.

Furthermore, he said that Indian and Malay votes were so promising in Perak and Selangor, as both states had large voters.

Perak has a 55,000 to 60,000 voter base while Selangor has 230,000, comprising women and youth.

On Chinese voters, Palanivel said their votes were equally important, adding that MIC was currently working on the ground to garner votes from the community.

"We are getting connected with the Chinese community, through MIC constituencies nationwide. We are not writing off the Chinese votes, and at the right moment, they will cast their votes for us.

"Many of them will cast votes for us. If we can reach about 30 to 35 per cent in urban areas (with rural votes expected to increase in some areas), this will strengthen our victory and party," he said.

The party president said he was currently, working in every constituency to ensure an MIC victory, adding that women candidates would also be fielded.

-- Bernama