poobalan.com

Party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said yesterday several new faces would be in the list.

He said this would include the "young and energetic" but warned that the candidates needed to be intelligent, approachable and equipped with the "necessary qualifications" as well. "Nominating young members as candidates does not mean that all new faces will be youngsters. It will be a mixture of old and new faces. "The candidates should be responsible and be able to work hard to upgrade the socio-economic status of the community," he said before meeting Perak MIC division and branch leaders here yesterday.

On the meeting, Samy Vellu said it had nothing to do with the general election but to "entrust them with duties and services to keep abreast with the current political scenario". "The role of leaders must be in line with the needs of the community and members must bring forth new ideas for the future and not be left behind with outdated approaches."

Samy Vellu said a conference to be attended by leaders from the 3,600 MIC branches would be held in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 3. Several resolutions on education and the economy would be tabled at the conference which will be opened by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Earlier in Kuala Lumpur, Samy Vellu said the MIC had drawn up a three-pronged plan to help the Indian community and steer the young away from undesirable activities. He said the plan, to be implemented over the coming months, would stress vocational and skills training for the youth and helping Indians in business.

He said many Indians were involved in unhealthy activities such as crime, mainly because of insufficient employment and educational opportunities.

"I will meet youth from Cha'ah in Johor, Sitiawan and Teluk Intan in Perak over the next two months to understand their problems and seek their views."