PENANG, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- The Indian community's votes may determine a win for the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Permatang Pasir state by-election on Aug 25, MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu said Thursday.
He said although the Indian voters are only 1.63 per cent or about 350 people their votes may determine the outcome.
His estimation was based on the narrow win by Pas in the Manik Urai by-election on July 14 where BN lost by just 65 votes.
"Based on Manik Urai, I believe the Indians can play an important role in Permatang Pasir," he said when opening the new Penang MIC headquarters building.
"I, together with MIC top leaders, will campaign aggressively in Permatang Pasir, and I am confident Penang MIC has made all preparations for the nomination day on Aug 17," he said.
"Given that the number of Indian voters is small, we will campaign house to house and have ceramahs in small groups. That way is more effective," he said.
"An operations room can be opened in this building (the new Penang MIC headquarters) and also in the by-election area," he said.
Samy Vellu said he will have a meeting with the Penang MIC soon on steps to be taken for the by-election which he felt was very important for the BN.
The BN and the opposition will announce their candidates tomorrow.
The Permatang Pasir state seat fell vacant following the death of assemblyman Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman, 63. In the 12th general election Hamdan defeated BN's Ahmad Sahar Shuib with a majority of 5,433 votes.
The state constituency has 20,289 votes (including postal voters) with 72.36 per cent being Malays, 25.85 per cent Chinese and 1.63 per cent Indians.
On another development, Samy Vellu advised Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to humble himself to the poor and to not forget the voters who had supported the opposition for their wins in the last general election.
He said Lim should listen to the residents of Kampung Buah Pala and be sympathetic to the people who had supported the opposition and pay attention to them.
"How can he forget them? Just one year on and they are forgotten. This can't be done," he said, adding that Lim and the state government should find an alternative solution if the initial solution was not accepted.
Samy Vellu was asked to comment on the altercation at Kampung Buah Pala today after the developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn brought workers and tractors to demolish 23 houses there after a stalemate on finding a solution.
Asked about the MIC's move after this, he said, the party will wait and see what sort of aid was given by the state government as it was its responsibility.
He said the MIC had offered to pay the state government RM3.2 million if it was brave enough to take back the land from the owner and developer and give it to the villagers but that did not happen.
"Never mind this is a gone case already and we have no more comments," he said.
He said although the Indian voters are only 1.63 per cent or about 350 people their votes may determine the outcome.
His estimation was based on the narrow win by Pas in the Manik Urai by-election on July 14 where BN lost by just 65 votes.
"Based on Manik Urai, I believe the Indians can play an important role in Permatang Pasir," he said when opening the new Penang MIC headquarters building.
"I, together with MIC top leaders, will campaign aggressively in Permatang Pasir, and I am confident Penang MIC has made all preparations for the nomination day on Aug 17," he said.
"Given that the number of Indian voters is small, we will campaign house to house and have ceramahs in small groups. That way is more effective," he said.
"An operations room can be opened in this building (the new Penang MIC headquarters) and also in the by-election area," he said.
Samy Vellu said he will have a meeting with the Penang MIC soon on steps to be taken for the by-election which he felt was very important for the BN.
The BN and the opposition will announce their candidates tomorrow.
The Permatang Pasir state seat fell vacant following the death of assemblyman Datuk Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman, 63. In the 12th general election Hamdan defeated BN's Ahmad Sahar Shuib with a majority of 5,433 votes.
The state constituency has 20,289 votes (including postal voters) with 72.36 per cent being Malays, 25.85 per cent Chinese and 1.63 per cent Indians.
On another development, Samy Vellu advised Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to humble himself to the poor and to not forget the voters who had supported the opposition for their wins in the last general election.
He said Lim should listen to the residents of Kampung Buah Pala and be sympathetic to the people who had supported the opposition and pay attention to them.
"How can he forget them? Just one year on and they are forgotten. This can't be done," he said, adding that Lim and the state government should find an alternative solution if the initial solution was not accepted.
Samy Vellu was asked to comment on the altercation at Kampung Buah Pala today after the developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn brought workers and tractors to demolish 23 houses there after a stalemate on finding a solution.
Asked about the MIC's move after this, he said, the party will wait and see what sort of aid was given by the state government as it was its responsibility.
He said the MIC had offered to pay the state government RM3.2 million if it was brave enough to take back the land from the owner and developer and give it to the villagers but that did not happen.
"Never mind this is a gone case already and we have no more comments," he said.
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