MIC to take 'different stance' in Sungai Bakap polls

SUNGAI BAKAP BY-ELECTION | The MIC has decided to take a different stance in campaigning efforts in the Sungai Bakap by-election compared to the one in Kuala Kubu Baharu in May.

In Sungai Bakap, MIC president SA Vigneswaran said the party will not be directly involved.

This, he said, was because the party has a “slightly different” view considering the difference in the situations in Kuala Kubu Baharu and Sungai Bakap.

“In Sungai Bakap, we (MIC) will help the Pakatan Harapan candidate with what we can. We have different views because the Penang state government is very strong.

“In DAP (in Penang), there are many Indian leaders. So, I hope these people will help the Harapan candidate to get support from the Indian voters,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Vigneswaran explained that this does not mean that MIC has let go of its responsibility or refuses to help secure victory for the government’s candidate.

Working with BN operations room

During the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, the MIC initially decided not to get involved in campaigning for the DAP candidate in the Selangor state seat.

However, the party changed its stance after being requested by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The MIC election machinery, led by deputy president M Saravanan, had also opened its own operations room and campaigned for Pang Sock Tao in Kuala Kubu Bharu.

However, Vigneswaran said MIC will not open its own operations room in Sungai Bakap.

“We will work through BN’s operations room,” he added.

The Sungai Bakap by-election will see a straight fight between candidates from Harapan and Perikatan Nasional.

Harapan is fielding former Aminuddin Baki Institute northern branch director Joohari Ariffin, and he will go up against PN’s Abidin Ismail, who is aiming to retain the seat for the opposition coalition.

The electoral roll for the Sungai Bakap state constituency has 39,279 electors comprising 39,222 ordinary electors and 57 police personnel.

Malay voters make up 59 percent of all registered voters followed by Chinese (22.5 percent), Indians (17.4 percent) and others (one percent). - Mkini