KUALA LUMPUR: A NGO that is normally critical of Barisan Nasional has given unexpected support to MIC, at least in the latter’s call for two exco seats to be reserved to it if BN recaptures Penang in the coming election.A Kalaimughilan, secretary general of the Malaysian Tamil Students Progressive Association, said MIC’s proposal was appropriate in view of the “hundreds of problems plaguing the Penang Indians”.
He was commenting on a statement issued yesterday by Penang MIC information chief NG Senthelnathan, who said the proposal had been conveyed to Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow.
“However,” Kalaimughilan told FMT, “I would like to stress that whoever get the posts must perform and not just warm their seats.”
He also urged Penang BN to allocate five state seats for Indian candidates to contest.
“BN is saying that Indian support has returned to it,” he said. “So if it is sincerely grateful, it should reward the Indians for their support by having more members of their community in the state assembly. Two from MIC, two from Gerakan and one from PPP would be ideal.”
But he said he doubted that Penang BN, led by Gerakan, would go that far. “I don’t think Penang Gerakan is ready for that even though Indians form the second largest group among its members.”
He criticised Gerakan for its reluctance to field Indian and Malay election candidates while claiming to be a multi-racial party and an ardent supporter of the 1Malaysia programme.
Kalaimughilan (photo) also urged Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to appoint another Indian state assemblyman to the exco if Pakatan Rakyat retains the state after the 13th general election.
There are five Indian assemblyman from Pakatan Rakyat in the current legislature, but only Deputy Chief Minister (II) P Ramasamy of DAP is in the exco.
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