MIC and PAS make way in by-election by not contesting
 [size=1em]Discussing matters: Vigneswaran (right) attending the CWC meeting with MIC vice-president Datuk T. Mohan (centre) and CWC member Datuk M. Saravanan at the MIC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
[size=1em]KUALA LUMPUR: The decision by MIC and PAS not to contest in the Port Dickson by-election makes Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s path to the Dewan Rakyat slightly easier. [size=1em]MIC president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran said the party would sit out the by-election despite contesting the parliamentary seat in Negri Sembilan in the past few general elections.
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[size=1em]Vigneswaran said recent statements by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin indicated that Umno wanted to contest in Port Dickson. [size=1em]“After listening to these views, the party’s central working committee (CWC) has decided that we will abstain from this by-election.
[size=1em]“Umno has made its decision so let them decide what to do next,” he told a media conference after chairing the CWC meeting. [size=1em]Vigneswaran said MIC decided to abstain from contesting as things “must change”, adding that decisions must be made collectively in a coalition. [size=1em]“We only have three component parties in Barisan. It looks like there hasn’t been a change in Barisan,” he said. [size=1em]It was reported that Mohamad had ruled himself out as Barisan’s candidate and said that a local should be fielded against PKR president-elect Anwar in Port Dickson. [size=1em]Mohamad said a local would be able to put up a good fight against Anwar compared to an outsider. [size=1em]The former Negri Sembilan mentri besar however said the final decision should come from the Barisan supreme council. [size=1em]Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin however had reportedly suggested that Linggi assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahman Redza should contest in the by-election. [size=1em]On another subject, Vigneswaran said MIC was willing to cooperate with PAS. [size=1em]“I met Hadi and he assured me that Islamic rules will not affect other religions and those principles are not used on other religions,” he said, referring to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. [size=1em]“So I have instructed MIC lawyers to work with PAS and also explain to our members that PAS’ principles will not affect us.” [size=1em]In Kota Baru, PAS said that it too would not contest in Port Dickson. [size=1em]PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said they would support either an Umno or MIC candidate contesting the seat, in line with their determination to strengthen the opposition in Parlia-ment. [size=1em]“We will support any opposition party, whether Umno or MIC, fielding a candidate there,” he said in a statement. [size=1em]Takiyuddin said the decision not to contest in Port Dickson was made at a special central committee meeting chaired by Abdul Hadi in Kuala Terengganu yesterday. [size=1em]Takiyuddin said it was against good democratic practices to force a by-election, as it was a waste of time and money. [size=1em]Since PAS’ chances of winning the seat was slim, he said the party would rather support other opposition parties contesting there.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/ ... woeRzmZGLV3SWobW.99
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Post time 14-9-2018 10:25 AM
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