HRP puts off decision, keeps 'em guessing - Malaysiakini

Yet-to-be-registered Human Rights Party have not decided on whether to join the fray in the Hulu Selangor by-election.

Pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar (below) said the party's central committee was supposed to make a decision today, but the meeting has been postponed to a later date.

"We have deferred the meeting to a later date to do further research and get more information on Hulu Selangor," he said when contacted this afternoon.

Uthayakumar also said that the decision would be made public within a week.

The interest in HRP's foray into the by-election has been further fuelled by Kota Alam Shah state assemblyperson M Manoharan, who yesterday urged PKR to field Uthayakumar as Pakatan Rakyat's candidate.

PKR's Indian leaders, however, have given mixed reactions to the prospects of Uthayakumar riding on PKR's back in the by-election.

MIC has since confirmed that their number 2 man, G Palanivel, would be BN's candidate for the contest.

Hulu Selangor parliament seat fell vacant following the death of its representative, Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad three days ago.

Ganabatirau and Vasanthakumar

The constituency in the northern region of Selangor has 63,593 voters, of which 19 percent are Indians. Malays make up the majority with 53.9 percent, and Chinese, 26.7 percent.

Meanwhile, today's edition of Tamil daily Malaysia Nanban said that the appearance of former Internal Security Act detainees V Ganabatirau and K Vasanthakumar - both former comrades of Uthayakumar - in the Kuala Kubu Bharu campaign rally with PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim has increased speculation that one of them may be fielded as the PKR candidate.

Ganabatirau is a DAP member whereas Vasanthakumar submitted his membership form to join PKR during the Bukit Selambau by-election.