Palanivel: MIC will not ask for more seats

(Bernama) – The MIC will not ask for more seats from the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming general election, instead it will focus on efforts to recapture those wrested by the opposition.

Its president, Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said winning back the seats from the opposition was more important than clamouring for more seats to contest.

He said the MIC would focus on Kedah, Perak and Selangor, which have sizeable Indian voters, to help the BN recapture the states, he told Bernama after presenting RM1.8 million in aid to 47 temples and 13 Indian non-governmental organisations here, today.

The MIC suffered its worst general election setback in 2008, retaining only three of the nine parliamentary seats.

Nine parliamentary and 19 state assembly seats were allocated to the MIC under BN’s seat sharing system.

Palanivel, who is also minister in the prime minister’s department, said the MIC would concentrate on garnering the support of new voters and fence-sitters.

“Although we are focusing on Kedah, Perak and Selangor, we are not neglecting other states as the support from the Indian community is important to help the BN return to power. The Indian community is coming back to support the BN,” he said.