PAS, MIC to hold party meetings over Port Dickson seat

Both PAS and MIC will hold meetings soon to decide whether to field candidates against PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim in the coming Port Dickson by-election.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said his party's meeting will not be held this week, as Anwar's candidacy was just announced earlier today.

"We have yet to discuss, we will meet to decide.

"There is no date yet for the meeting, maybe in two weeks' time, as this week, there is the muktamar," he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

According to Tuan Ibrahim, the meeting will not involve Umno.

"No, the meeting only involves PAS. PAS and Umno will not have a meeting, we are different parties. Our meeting will have nothing to do with Umno," he said.

Tuan Ibrahim, who is also the Kubang Kerian MP, said PKR may have chosen the Port Dickson seat due to its “winnability” factor.

"I think the seat is safe for him (Anwar). The decision may have been taken after gauging the chances of him winning there."

'MIC should contest in principle'

Meanwhile, MIC central working committee member M Saravanan told Malaysiakini the party will meet tomorrow to make a decision on the matter.

"The central working committee of MIC will have a meeting at 11.30am tomorrow to decide (whether to contest in Port Dickson)," said the Tapah MP.

Saravanan added that MIC president SA Vigneswaran and deputy president SK Devamany will be at this meeting, along with vice-presidents T Mohan and Jaspal Singh.

Mohan (photo) later told Malaysiakini that since Port Dickson is a traditional MIC seat, the party should contest in principle.

He stressed, however, that a final decision will only be made after the MIC president meets with BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Earlier today, Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin had proposed that BN field Linggi assemblyperson Abdul Rahman Mohd Redza for the by-election.

PKR earlier today announced that the Port Dickson parliamentary seat, held by Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, will be vacated to allow PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim to contest it and return to Parliament upon a victory.

Port Dickson voters comprise 55 percent non-Malays (33 percent Chinese, 22 percent Indians) and 43 percent Malays.

In the 14th general election, Danyal garnered 36,225 votes, defeating V Mogan of MIC (18,515 votes) and PAS' Mahfuz Roslan (6,594 votes). - Mkini