MIC is confident of drawing the support of the Indian Malaysian voters in Bukit Selambau, Kedah following several 'open discussions' between the party leaders and the community, said its president S Samy Vellu.

samy vellu exclusive on tamil schools 080708 06 "Both sides (MIC and the Indian community) have been engaged in open and frank discussions for the past two weeks, and we have managed to thrash out many differences," he said in a statement today.

He said MIC wanted to hear the views and feelings of the Indian community in Bukit Selambau in relations to various issues, including the death of suspected car thief, Kugan Ananthan while in police custody.

"We have explained to them that the matter is currently being investigated and if there is a case, the police have said that the culprit will be charged in court," he said.

Samy Vellu said he had 'camped' in Bukit Selambau for the last two weeks to oversee MIC's election preparations and was happy with the cooperation extended by all Barisan Nasional component parties in the constituency.

BN will be fielding S Ganesan from MIC in the April 7 by-election. Nomination is scheduled for March 29. Indian Malaysian voters accounted for almost 30 percent of the voters in Bukit Selambau.

'Neutralise the lies'

The MIC president said he had personally gone to opposition-controlled areas in Bukit Selambau to 'neutralise the lies' being spread by certain quarters about the federal government and BN.

"There are between 13 to 15 areas which according to our survey are hotspots, and we have embarked on door-to-door campaign to meet the voters.

bukit selambau state seat kedah 110209 "They (the Indian voters) have become friendly to us (MIC) because they felt that the previous assemblyperson from the opposition had neglected them," he said.

The seat fell vacant following the resignation of PKR representative V Arumugam.

Samy Vellu said they have also accepted Ganesan who has been moving with the MIC chief in his campaign trail.

"The Malay and Chinese voters have also accepted him because he has the experience being the former assemblyperson of Lunas (Kedah) and a lawyer by profession. His smile and pleasant face is also wooing the crowd," he said.

He said based on the cooperation and spirit shown by all BN component parties, the ruling coalition could wrest the Bukit Selambau seat back from the opposition come April 7.

"I will continue to visit Bukit selambau until the by-election is over. Right now, I am in Bukit Gantang (for the April 7 by-election)," he added.