Selangor Umno has moved quickly to claim a stake to the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat in the upcoming by-election.

The party feels it stands a good chance of wresting the seat from PKR, and that MIC should therefore step aside in the contest.

palanivel MIC wants deputy president G Palanivel to contest in Hulu Selangor because he had represented the constituency for four terms before bowing out in the 2008 general election.

A source from Selangor Umno, however, said MIC could make a sacrifice and hand over the seat to Umno.

One reasons is that this will be the first by-election in Selangor since the state fell to Pakatan Rakyat two years ago.

“The contest will be a yardstick for BN. What is important is for BN to win,” the source said.

“We must take into consideration the feelings at the grassroots especially after BN suffered heavy losses (in the last general election). We are willing to give MIC one of the Umno seats later, as an exchange.”

 

In the past, he said, Umno had willingly given up the Kota Raja parliamentary seat and the Batu Caves, Sri Andalas and Ijok state seats to MIC, although Malays form the majority of the electorate.

“Hence, Selangor Umno feels that MIC should now give the Hulu Selangor seat to Umno,” he said, adding that feedback indicates that MIC will be rejected.

azlan “Under the 1Malaysia concept, citizens’ interests must be given priority. Why shouldn’t MIC take this into consideration, as well as the mood on the ground?

“This does not mean we are reneging on our friendship within BN, but MIC's sacrifice in this by-election is important for BN to be accepted back in Selangor. We must place a candidate who has grassroots support.”

The source added there are many qualified Umno candidates who can contest, including Hulu Selangor division vice-head Adnan Buyong, secretary Nazri Dahlan and Youth chief Mahmud Karim and its Wanita head Rosni Sahar, who is also the Wanita Umno secretary.

Defeated Kong to lead MCA machinery

Selangor BN held a meeting on Monday to discuss preparations for the by-election, with 70 representatives attending from Umno, MCA, MIC, Gerakan and PPP.

Malaysiakini has learnt the meeting did not focus on who should be the candidate. Selangor BN deputy chief Noh Omar told those present that federal leaders would make the decision.

samy vellu 010307 Party president S Samy Vellu has stressed in no uncertain terms that his deputy is the man for the job, although the decision - by convention - is made by the top BN leadership.

He has also dismissed the claim that Hulu Selangor constituents are not keen on a MIC candidate.

Meanwhile, new MCA president Chua Soi Lek has announced Kong Cho Ha, who is also housing and local government minister, to lead the party by-election campaign in Hulu Selangor.

Chua made the announcement tonight after meeting with local MCA leaders in Batang Kali.

Kong, a Chua loyalist, was defeated by Liow Tiong Lai in the deputy president race three days ago.

He is being seen as a key contender for the powerful secretary-general’s post. In picking Kong as secretary-general, Chua could ensure that his running mate, who lost to Liow with a slim majority, could keep his ministerial post.