Maybe MIC wants to announce its candidates itself, Hishammuddin says of absence
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein has downplayed MIC’s absence from Barisan Nasional’s (BN) announcement of general election candidates tonight as a personal decision.
The caretaker defence minister suggested that maybe the BN component wishes to announce its own candidates separately.
“I think they’re going to announce it themselves. It’s no different from Sabah who decided to announce it themselves in Sabah in the next few days,” Hishamuddin told Malay Mail when met after the event at World Trade Centre.
MIC president Tan Sri S. Vigneswaran and his deputy Datuk Seri M. Saravanan were conspicuously absent tonight, fuelling rumours that the component party was considering a complete withdrawal from GE15.
Earlier, reports emerged that Vigneswaran has convened an emergency meeting of the MIC leadership tomorrow, ostensibly to discuss the party’s participation in the poll.
When pressed about the rumour, Hishammuddin replied: “Have to ask them. I don’t entertain rumours at this time of day.”
He also denied allegations that BN candidates were forced to sign letters in support of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the prime minister if it wins the GE15.
“I did not hear of such things, and also Cabinet is not formed by the president isn’t it? The most important thing is for us to win. If we don’t win we don’t have the government,” he added.
Hishamuddin will be competing in Sembrong in Johor, while Vigneswaran and Saravanan have been given the Sungai Siput and Tapah constituencies.
BN announced a total of 164 candidates today.
