MIC Promises Big Victory For BN In 13th General Election - Palanivel

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- The MIC has promised a big victory for the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), based on tremendous support from the Indian community after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak took over the reins in 2009.

Party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said the support was stronger for the ruling coalition after receiving great benefits, particularly in education, public service development programme, economy and social programmes initated by Najib.

"Up till 2004, our vote was a fixed deposit. But we lost our fixed deposit in 2008. We now assure that the fixed deposit is backing the prime minister.

"Today, the community realises that only the BN government and the prime minister are capable of shaping their future.

"The Indian votes are important to BN, and saying this, the MIC can bring back at least 600,000 votes to the BN," he said during his speech at the MIC's 66th Annual General Assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre here Sunday.

The assembly was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Also present were former MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Senate president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang and BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Palanivel, who is also minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said the Indian community had always placed Najib as a special leader who could uplift their social and economic status.

Furthermore, he said, the community would be better only under Najib since the prime minister knew what the Indian community needed.

"Our vote matters, our vote counts, our vote is a block. MIC is the only party that can truly represent the interests and rights of the Indians in this country," he added.

Palanivel went on to stress that the Indian loyalty to the country could not be questioned although members of the community could be vocal in expressing their past dissatisfaction.

"We may be vocal at times, but it is really because we love this country and want it to be the best it can be," he said.

Palanivel also took the opportunity to make requests to Najib, in terms of monetary aid for various programmes to aid the Indian community.

One of the requests was that the MIED-owned Tafe College be upgraded to the status of a technical university college, in view of TAR College being upgraded to the status of a university college.

"We are also requesting the prime minister to provide a RM30 million grant annually for MIED and another matching grant to the AIMST University," said Palanivel.

He said Indian equity was lagging far behind its target of three per cent in the country.

"However, there aren't any affirmative plans in place for the community to catch up. The government has a proven model that worked well for the Bumiputera community. We don't have to re-invent the wheel. We can adopt some of the successful methods to accelerate the growth of Indian equity," he said.

Meanwhile, Palanivel slammed the opposition attitude that only 'exploited' the Indian community votes to win the election and ignored every promise which was made.

"They have nothing to offer, nothing concrete and practical. Everything is empty promise such as breaking alter shrines in Sepang and making Kampung Buah Pala people homeless. Only when Datuk Seri Najib intervened, and delivered houses to them," he noted.

Palanivel called on all delegates for continuity, loyalty and long-term vision, as the challenges faced by the community were real and diverse, which could not be met in a short span of time.