[UPDATED] GE15: MIC sticking with BN, to contest all seats given, including Batu, says chief

KUALA LUMPUR – MIC is set to contest all seats allocated to it by Barisan Nasional, including Batu, in the upcoming 15th general election (GE15), said president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran.

In a press conference at party headquarters here today, Vigneswaran said his party is satisfied with BN’s seat allocation for GE15 and welcomed the fielding of four candidates from the “Friends of BN” banner in the polls.

Quashing the rumours that MIC might forgo GE15, Vigneswaran stressed MIC was given 10 seats by Barisan Nasional, namely Sg Siput, Tapah, Hulu Selangor, Teluk Intan, Kuala Langat, Port Dickson, Batu, Padang Serai, Segamat and Kota Raja.

Contradicting MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, who claimed that Batu will be contested by his party, Vigneswaran insisted that the seat belongs to MIC.

“If Wee wants to say anything, he must say it to BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“We are following what was announced last night by him and we will contest Batu. No swapping,” he said.

He further said that MCA should not have acted this way as discussions at BN’s highest level had already been conducted.

“A meeting must be done before any agreement can be reached to swap seats. He has to discuss this with the BN chairman before making any announcement.

“Kapar and Sg Buloh were winnable seats for us and we will do our best in Batu. Cameron Highlands was given to Umno even though it belongs to MIC.

“It is a familial feeling for Khairy (Jamaluddin) who is a good candidate (to be selected) for Sg Buloh,” he added.

During the unveiling of BN’s candidates for the upcoming general election last night, Zahid had initially announced that MIC’s A. Kohilan Pillay would be standing in Batu.

However, Wee said MCA’s candidate for the Batu seat is Yew Teong Lock. – The Vibes, November 2, 2022