Feb 23 2008
Subra declines opposition offer
Wow, Subramaniam still can get offer from opposition. But being a BN loyalist, he declines. Maybe later can get senatorship.Subra will not contest in Sg Siput
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/78495
RK Anand | Feb 23, 08 3:19pm
Former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam will not be contesting against his ex-boss S Samy Vellu in the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat. A source confirmed this when asked to comment on a front-page report published by Tamil daily Makkal Osai today. The daily - which is linked to Subramaniam - raised the possibility of a showdown between the two veterans.
The source revealed that Subramaniam was approached by an opposition party soon after MIC unveiled its candidates list on Wednesday. “The party offered him to contest in Sungai Siput under its banner,” he said, but declined to name the party. It is learnt that some of Subramaniam’s supporters wanted him to accept it in order to put a closure to the protracted feud with Samy Vellu. The supporters felt that the current political climate can be favourable to Subramaniam and he may a stand a good chance of winning the seat which has been in the hands of the MIC president since 1974.
Remain loyal to BN
According to the source, Subramiam turned down the offer because he did not want to against Barisan Nasional (BN). “He wants to always remain loyal to BN,” he said.
It is learnt that Subramaniam would be in Kepala Batas tomorrow where Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would be filing his nomination papers for the Penang parliamentary seat. Subramaniam - a former MP and deputy minister - was dropped from the MIC election lineup by Samy Vellu in the 1999 polls. In the 2006 party elections, he was defeated by G Palanivel for the number two post. Palanivel was Samy Vellu’s preferred candidate.
Over the recent weeks, there was speculation that Subramaniam could be given a seat for the March 8 polls.Certain quarters said this was part of the strategy to assuage the anger of the Indian community.
Since the Nov 25 rally organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), there is concern that the once loyal community might turn its back on BN in the coming polls. MIC and its president have also come under tremendous pressure to deliver the votes.
In Sungai Siput, Samy Vellu will be facing Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) leader Dr D Jayakumar in a straight fight. Jayakumar will be contesting under the PKR banner since PSM is not a registered party.
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