52??? Can’t believe so many people interested to stand for election in one state seat. It \u00a0means either:<\/p>\n
1. plenty of candidates whom think they have the support from locals (maybe PKR presence is strong until got so many “qualified” candidates) OR<\/p>\n
2. they think voters will vote for party instead of candidate and they want to try their luck.<\/p>\n
I would like to believe its 1, but I think reality is 2.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nFifty-two PKR members have indicated their interest in contesting the Bukit Melawati state seat in the next general election.<\/p>\n
The rush for the seat started about six months ago after a rumour was circulated within party circles that incumbent assemblyman Muthiah Maria Pillay, 63, would not stand.<\/p>\n
Out of the 52 aspirants, it is believed that about 30 have sent formal letters to PKR headquarters offering themselves as candidates.<\/p>\n
Party insiders say a senior party leader is also believed to be eyeing the seat for his daughter.<\/p>\n
Although Bukit Melawati was regarded as an \u201cIndian seat\u201d, those who had shown interest were from all races, said the party insider.<\/p>\n
He said the rumour could have been started to oust Muthiah as some felt that it would be easy to grab his seat as the assemblyman was not the confrontational type.<\/p>\n
Muthiah said he had not indicated that he would not be contesting in the next general election.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I will not ask for the seat as it is against my principles to demand to contest because I feel it\u2019s the party leadership\u2019s decision,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Muthiah said there was even talk that he was gravely ill.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people called to ask me if it was true that I was very ill and I jokingly told them that I was already dead,\u201d Muthiah said.<\/p>\n
Muthiah, who is an engineer by profession, said he had also not lobbied to contest in the 1995 general election where he won the Pasir Panjang state seat in Lumut under the Barisan Nasional ticket.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven then, I never asked to contest but was selected by the MIC,\u201d said Muthiah, who was the MIC Youth chief between 1996 to 1999.<\/p>\n
He left the MIC to join PKR in 2006.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n