GE15: MIC denies manifesto includes seeking to free Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran has denied media reports that one of the items on the party’s manifesto was to free former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence in Kajang Prison following the Federal Court’s decision on Aug 23 to uphold his corruption conviction involving RM42mil of SRC International funds.

The 76th MIC AGM had unanimously approved a resolution authorising the MIC president and central working committee (CWC) to make decisions relating to GE15 on Monday (Oct 10), Bernama reports.

The resolution received the support of almost 3,000 MIC delegates and observers attending the AGM, which was launched by Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Vigneswaran also said about 70% of MIC’s candidates for the 15th General Election (GE15) will be new faces.

Without revealing their names, he said leaders who hold positions in the party will be given priority in GE15.

"I will announce the candidates (representing MIC on the Barisan Nasional ticket) as soon as possible. There may be changes if there are additional seats,” he told reporters after attending the AGM at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre here.

The MIC is expected to contest all its traditional seats in GE15, namely nine parliamentary and 18 state seats, while discussions are still ongoing for additional seats.