Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email NST reports Samy Vellu as saying 3 candidates being recommended for the post of assembly speaker, while Perak MIC chief Rajoo also said the party will ask new MB to appoint Indians as special officers:
The MIC wants the post of speaker of the Perak assembly.
Sources said party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had recommended three candidates to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
It is understood that the candidates were a mixture of experienced faces and new blood.
Samy Vellu said the party had “made a representation to the deputy prime minister”.
“We have indicated what we need and we leave it to him to decide.
Perak has the largest number of Indians after Selangor and Kuala Lumpur and if we don’t plan things properly, it will be difficult to regain their votes in the next general election.”
In Perak, state MIC chief Datuk G. Rajoo said the party would ask Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to appoint Indian special officers to serve the interests of the community.
He said this was necessary as the state MIC did not have elected representatives in the state assembly.
All four MIC candidates who contested in the state constituencies of Behrang, Hutan Melintang, Pasir Panjang and Sungkai lost in the March 8 general election.
“There is a large Indian community in Perak but we do not have elected representatives in Barisan Nasional.
“We hope Zambry will consider this vacuum and appoint MIC leaders as special officers in charge of Indian affairs.”
According to Malaysiakini, the likely candidate for speaker is a “young Ipoh-based lawyer”. Besides that, both MIC and PPP are eyeing the position of special officer in the EXCO line-up.
The identity of this special officer is not known yet but it is believed that both MIC and Perak-based PPP are vying for their nominee to be appointed to this powerful post.
At the same time, community leaders have also expressed hope that such a post is filled by a non-political person.
Today, 6 of the 10 EXCO have been revealed:
1. Perak MCA Youth head Dr Mah Hang Soon (Chenderiang assemblyperson) – NEW
2. Perak Umno Youth head Zainol Padzi Paharudin (Sungai Manik) – NEW
3. Hamidah Osman (Sungai Rapat) – NEW (remember the “Indians and snakes” issues?)
4. Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid (Kamunting) – NEW
5. Ramly Zahari (Manong) – was EXCO under previous BN govt
6. Saarani Mohamad (Kota Tampan) – was EXCO under previous BN govt
So far, its 5 UMNO and 1 MCA, which means that another four posts may go to the three defectors and one Indian special officer.
