Umno and MIC in Selangor are at odds with each other over the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat, according to BN insiders.
Malaysiakini learned that the local Umno chapter had demanded they be given the right to contest there in the upcoming 15th general election.
It was said that Umno believes they can get better support from voters and help BN wrestle the seat back from Pakatan Harapan.
"Umno wants to contest Hulu Selangor for this election. This was especially after (MIC) lost the seat in 2018," said a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The constituency is largely regarded as a MIC traditional seat as the Indian-based party had contested there for BN in every general election since 1986.
Between then and the 14th general election in 2018, MIC had won in the Malay-majority constituency nine times but lost the seat twice - 2008 and 2018 - both times to PKR.
The source claimed that Umno's demand had sparked fear of potential sabotage should the decision is not in their favour.
"Umno really wants the seat for themselves. They are still asking for it. So if the seat goes to MIC, there is fear that they (Umno and MIC) might not work together (for the election)."
Malaysiakini has reached out to Hulu Selangor Umno division chief Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan (above, left) and MIC vice-president T Mohan for their comments.
Tradition vs political reality
Nadzari confirmed that his division had put in a request to field one of their own, but stressed it would be up to the BN leadership to decide.
According to the Umno leader, their reading of the situation indicated that there is a strong sentiment for identity politics in Hulu Selangor, which is a Malay-majority seat.
"Today, our strength (BN members in Hulu Selangor) is only about 1:7 in ratio, in general, and 1:5 ratio to the total Malay voters.
"So the rest of the numbers are Malays who are non-BN. What we want to focus on now is to get back those who used to support us but had voted for others (in 2018).
“If we want to win, this group is very important and we must understand their sentiment," he told Malaysiakini.
He refuted the popular belief that Hulu Selangor is a MIC traditional seat, saying that other BN component parties have been taking turns to contest there.
"Rotation is not new here. If we go back to history, the first to contest (Hulu Selangor) was Umno. After that, MCA, Gerakan and MIC had taken turns to contest.
"So no one should claim the seat as their traditional seat. A traditional seat means no one else has contested it.”
Nadzari was referring to the 1955 Malayan federal election, when Umno fielded Halimahton Abdul Majid under the Perikatan banner in Hulu Selangor. It had since been passed to MCA and then MIC.
Asked about claims that Umno might sabotage BN in the Hulu Selangor election if MIC gets to contest, Nadzari strenuously denied it.
"Umno wants to sabotage? Says who? I don't know (about this). We have never sabotaged our party."
‘I am not their enemy’
Meanwhile, Mohan, who is speculated to be MIC's pick to contest the Hulu Selangor seat, said he was aware of Umno's demand.
According to the MIC leader, he had started working in the constituency since 2019, but would obey any decision the BN leadership makes regarding his candidacy.
"I leave it to the top leadership. Whatever they decide, we will follow," he told Malaysiakini.
Mohan said he understood why Umno wanted to contest there in GE15, given that it is a Malay-majority area.
"To me, it is their right to make such a request. There are over 60 percent Malay voters, that's why they want it.
"But this had been a MIC traditional seat. MIC has had this understanding since long ago."
He, however, dismissed concerns of Umno sabotaging them in the election.
While the Malay-based party may be unhappy if MIC gets Hulu Selangor, Mohan said he believed it would not go to the extent of risking BN's chance to win the seat back.
To them, Harapan was the real enemy and not BN component members, he added
"If they want to sabotage me, are they going to support Harapan instead of a fellow BN candidate? I am not their enemy. We share the same common enemy, which is Harapan.
"And if Umno gets the seat, I will still support them. To me, the most important thing now is for us to win it back," Mohan stressed.
New PKR MP aspirant
On the other side of the political divide, Malaysiakini learned that the incumbent Hulu Selangor MP June Leow is facing a challenge from Dr N Sathia Prakash, a grassroots PKR leader who is said to be gunning for the seat.
Prakash, who is the founder of clinic chain SP Care Group, is the incumbent Hulu Selangor PKR division chief.
Both Leow and Prakash had competed for the position in the recent party election where Prakash emerged the winner after securing 1,807 votes against Leow's 1,518.
Leow when contacted by Malaysiakini confirmed that she intends to defend the seat in GE15.
"I have served the people here for more than 13 years. But whatever it is, I will leave it to the party leadership," she said.
Asked about rumours that Prakash is also hoping to be fielded as Hulu Selangor candidate for Harapan, the MP replied in the affirmative.
She, however, denied that there was any issue between them.
"(If Prakash is selected) there is no issue. That's why I said, it is up to the party leadership.
"It is for them to make the best decision for the party. And at the end of the day, voters will decide. We will do our best."
Prakash, when contacted, confirmed that his name was sent to the PKR leadership.
He said the nomination was made based on a decision during a Hulu Selangor PKR meeting, where its leaders suggested the division chief's name be included.
"But it all depends on the top leadership, on Datuk Seri (Anwar Ibrahim)."
According to Prakash, they will support whoever is chosen by Harapan to stand in the contest.
"We want a better Hulu Selangor, that’s our vision. So whoever gets selected, we will work alongside (him or her) and do our best," he said.
In 2018, Leow won the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat with 13,391 votes majority after she bagged 40,783 votes.
She defeated then-incumbent P Kamalanathan, who received 27,392 votes. - Mkini
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