Gearing up: Flags of contesting parties flying by a roadside in Batang Kali amid campaigning for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election. — Bernama
HULU SELANGOR: Umno has held discussions to ensure MIC plays an effective role in campaigning in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, says Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
He said he was told by the Selangor Umno state liaison committee that there were such talks taking place.
“The Prime Minister has mentioned that the MIC president will come down to campaign and in the evening (yesterday), I met with the Selangor Umno state liaison committee.
“They (Umno) are holding discussions to ensure MIC has a good working plan.
“I see this as a good effort,” Fahmi told reporters at the media centre in Kuala Kubu Baru yesterday.
Earlier this month, there were reports saying that MIC will boycott the by-election, but Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim denied such claims.
According to Anwar, MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran assured him that the party will help Pakatan Harapan in the by-election.
Another Barisan Nasional component party MCA remains with their decision of not assisting DAP in this by-election.
Fahmi was also unfazed over former DAP leader P. Ramasamy’s efforts to urge locals, especially the Indians, to vote against Pakatan’s candidate in Kuala Kubu Baru.
In a sarcastic jab, Fahmi said Ramasamy and the party – Urimai – led by him, should consider officially joining Perikatan Nasional.
“I am not sure if his party or himself had applied to enter Perikatan. But please join Perikatan, I am sure many people over there will love him,” he said.
On Sunday, it was reported that Ramasamy started a campaign urging locals to vote against Pakatan in the by-election.
Ramasamy had previously said that Indian support would be tested during the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
He urged Indian voters to demand better treatment from the government.
In August last year, Ramasamy tendered his resignation to DAP after he and six other incumbents were dropped as candidates in the Penang state election.
At the same time, Fahmi said he is unsure if Anwar will be campaigning in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, as the Prime Minister is presently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“The norm at by-elections is that the Prime Minister does not campaign.
“This is the norm, even from before, not just this administration,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fahmi also denied allegations that he had campaigned in his capacity as Communications Minister.
“I did not wear any party clothes. I came here on a working trip by the ministry,” he said.
The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election will be a four-cornered contest involving Pakatan’s Pang Sock Tao, Perikatan’s Khairul Azhari Saut, PRM’s Hafizah Zainudin and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin.
