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Wednesday, 14 April 2010

Samy Vellu Not Distracted By Speculation On Likely Candidate

HULU SELANGOR, April 13 (Bernama) -- MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu said Tuesday he is not distracted by speculations that the Barisan Nasional (BN) will not pick a candidate proposed by him or that the opposition is likely to field former minister Zaid Ibrahim in the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election.

"I don't worry about what others say. My worry is only for the BN to win," he said when met at the Hulu Selangor MIC office here where he was discussing plans for the by-election with grassroot leaders.

The veteran politician said he had been working tirelessly in the constituency in the past two weeks to identify problems and take measures to solve them with the cooperation of all parties.

Asked on a statement by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday that the BN would field a local candidate for the by-election on April 25, Samy Vellu said everyone are local.

"It does not mean anything to me...everyone are local. I played a major part in doing work earlier than anyone else," said Samy Vellu who had proposed his deputy, Datuk G. Palanivel, a four-term MP who lost in the 2008 general election, as candidate.

The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent MP Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad of Parti Keadilan Rakyat on March 25.

Muhyiddin's statement had raised speculation that MIC Youth deputy leader and Kerling Estate-born V. Mugilan would be the likely candidate, while MIC information chief P. Kamalanathan and MIC division deputy chief K. Balasundram's names had also cropped up.

On Zaid being PKR's likely candidate, he said it did not make any difference as the constituency of 65,000 voters need an MP who could serve the people.

"We are not fighting a person...we are fighting a party. He (Zaid) is a good man, but reputation is different from serving the people."

He said a candidate from the ruling government would be better off in serving the people here and a victory for the BN would transform the physical condition of the area.

"They (PKR) already had two years but nothing had moved. People here can see for themselves...they need a government that cares, need leaders who can plan their future and this can only be done by the BN," he said.

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