Saravanan: Barisan’s power-sharing concept to continue

JOHOR BARU: The power-sharing practices carried out among Barisan Nasional component parties have always worked well for the coalition and will continue in the upcoming Johor election, says MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.

The Human Resource Minister said that the party would be meeting with Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad, who is also the state Barisan chairman, to finalise the seat allocations for MIC.

“Party president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran has informed of MIC’s intention to contest in our traditional seats.

“We at Barisan always practise power-sharing and we will make the best decision for the party and country,” he added.

He said this in a press conference after jointly launching the Tekun Nasional Entrepreneurs Socso Contribution Campaign with Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar at a hotel here yesterday.

When asked about a request made by the Kulai MIC division to contest in the Bukit Batu seat, which previously belonged to Gerakan when the party was part of Barisan, Saravanan said it was a norm during an election to see some quarters making requests.

He added that any side can make an appeal to contest in certain seats that they were eyeing, but at the end of the day, the Barisan leadership would decide on the matter.

“When there is an election, everyone seems to have an interest in becoming a candidate, where they will ask for this seat or that seat, but at the end of the day, Barisan will make a decision for all of us and we should adhere to it.

“However, MIC stands firm that we will not object if the Barisan leadership gives seats to our Friends of Barisan as long as they do not take our seats, which would tarnish our image,” he added.

The party contested in four seats – Gambir, Kahang, Tenggaroh and Skudai – in GE14, with wins only in Kahang and Tenggaroh.

Talk is rife that MIC has been offered two seats, that of Paloh and Tangkak, which the party is not keen on taking, as the two seats are traditionally contested by MCA.

In this state election, MIC is eyeing the Perling, Permas and Pemanis seats. Polling day has been set for March 12, with nominations on Feb 26 and early voting on March 8.