[UPDATED] GE15: let MIC meet first, says Zahid amid reports party may sit out polls

KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi tonight brushed off questions about MIC’s absence at the coalition’s announcement of its candidates to face the general election (GE15).

He merely said the Indian-based component party would be holding a special central working committee meeting tomorrow, when asked by reporters to comment on its displeasure over seat allocations.

“They’re having a meeting tomorrow first,” Zahid told reporters at the BN event held at the World Trade Centre here, before quickly walking off.

MIC leaders did not show up at the announcement of BN candidates tonight over what sources said was its dispute with Umno over seats allocations.

MIC could even consider sitting out the election, which will be held on November 19. Nomination day is this Saturday.

A source said MIC might try to convince Umno to give it the 10 parliamentary seats it wants before nomination day.

Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein also told reporters he was not aware why MIC had not attended the BN event tonight but added he believed an announcement would be made soon.

“No worries, they will make an announcement in the next few days,” said Hishammuddin, who is defending his Sembrong seat.

Despite the rumours of MIC pulling out of GE15, Zahid announced 10 candidates from the party to contest parliamentary seats during tonight’s event. 

They are: 

Padang Serai – Datuk C. Sivarraajh 
Sg Siput – Tan Sri S. Vigneswaran (MIC president)
Tapah – Datuk Seri M. Saravanan (MIC deputy president)
Teluk Intan – Datuk T. Murugiah
Hulu Selangor – Datuk T. Mohan
Kota Raja – Kajendran Doraisamy
Kuala Langat – Datuk Mohana Muniandy Raman
Batu – Datuk A. Kohilan Pillay
Port Dickson - Datuk P. Kamalanathan
Segamat – Ramasamy Muthusamy – The Vibes, November 1, 2022