MIC: We have delivered Indian votes as promised
By Sharon Tan, The Edge
MIC has delivered the Indian votes in the Bagan Pinang by-election to Barisan Nasional (BN) as promised, claimed its president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu.
“We (the MIC) have kept our promise to the prime minister by delivering the Indian votes to the BN. This was his (Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s) KPI to the MIC,” he said in a statement to the media last night.
Samy Vellu promised to fulfil the party’s pledges to the Indian voters while thanking them for their support.
Human Resources Minister and MIC vice-president Datuk Dr S Subramaniam said an initial survey by the party revealed that the BN had won in all the four voting streams in the state constituency — Ladang Atherton, Pekan Siliau, Ladang Brandwall and Sua Betong.
“We are very happy with the results in the four polling stations which the MIC was put in charge,’ he said in a statement.
He said the results were an indication that the Indians were returning to the BN fold.
“The government must now continue to improve the conditions of the Indian community so that this election result will spread to the other areas and eventually lead to a victory for the BN in the 13th general election,” he said.
“It is the BN that Malay, Chinese, Indian and other ethnic groups and all rakyat belong to. The result just reflects that,” Umno treasurer and Second Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said when contacted.
Johor Bahru MP Datuk Shahrir Samad said Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad’s victory affirmed the grassroot strength of his Teluk Kemang Umno division and his strong connection with the local voters.
“These are prerequisites for BN’s electoral success,” he told The Edge Financial Daily.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said the landslide victory was a reflection of the voters’ confidence in Najib’s leadership, adding that Malaysians have begun to accept the premier’s 1Malaysia concept.
“The victory means a lot to Barisan Nasional,” he said when contacted.
Liew, who is also Sabah’s Liberal Democratic Party president, pointed out that BN should not sit back following this victory but take the opportunity to double its efforts in regaining voters’ confidence and support nationwide in preparing for the next polls.
Meanwhile, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said the results showed PR would have to come to grips with some internal squabbles it faced at both the state and federal levels, stressing that public perception on the opposition pact was vital, especially following the March 8 general election.
He said a post-mortem should be carried out by PR and its results made known, adding that the opposition pact realised it was up against a strong BN machinery and candidate.
“Umno and BN have won the battle but not the war with an irredeemable candidate,” said Lim, who is MP for Ipoh Timur.
He added that Isa’s image goes to show the benchmark set by BN in choosing its candidates, adding that an Umno veteran had mentioned that a win by Umno in Bagan Pinang indicated an endorsement for corruption.
