Ex-MIC leader willing to be endorsed by Harapan for Batu seat

GE14 | A former MIC leader, who is contesting as an independent candidate for the Batu parliament seat, is open to being endorsed by Pakatan Harapan.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, VM Panjamothy said he welcomed this with open arms and is also willing to continue Harapan's struggle.

He is now waiting for a sign from PKR vice-president Tian Chua or the Harapan leadership.

Tian Chua, who is the two-term incumbent for Batu, was disqualified from contesting on nomination day (April 28), over a court verdict.

On Monday, the PKR leader said he was willing to endorse another candidate as the last resort if his legal challenge to quash the Election Commission's decision fails.

At present, Batu would witness a four-cornered fight between Panjamothy, BN's Dominic Lau, PAS' Azhar Yahya and another independent candidate, law student M Prabakaran.

Speculation has been rife that PKR leaders have been in contact with the two independent candidates but Panjamothy declined to comment on this.

The 63-year-old former MIC central working committee member was the first to announce that he would subscribe to Harapan's principles and agenda of change, but with a caveat that Harapan must first give him a signal.

The signal from Harapan, Panjamothy said, must be in the form of an open declaration.

"(The signal) should be that you (Harapan) openly declare you would like for one of the independent candidates to be an alternative candidate (for Harapan).

"The ball is at their feet," added the father of three, who is using the elephant logo because he felt that it represents his strength and memory power.

I will be a 'roaring tiger'

Panjamothy said he decided to leave MIC after more than three decades because the party failed to recognise the contribution of its members and claimed that the promise to make him a senator was never fulfilled.

"I am not just looking at my own life, I want to contribute too. That's why I joined the party, I joined six other NGOs as well.

"But I realise I am getting older and I cannot wait any further. I am eager and anxious to serve in a wider capacity. So, I quit MIC to contest in the general election," he added.

Panjamothy also rebutted the party president Dr S Subramaniam's statement that MIC had sacked him.

"No, I tendered my resignation on the eve of nomination, I am a free bird," he added.

Panjamothy, who operates a car park and sundry shop, claimed to be a familiar face in Batu and pointed out that unlike his opponents, he lives in the constituency.

If elected, the former Telekom technician, vowed to be a “roaring tiger” in Parliament and plans to raise issues affecting the locals such as the traffic gridlock and relocation of squatters. -Mkini