Declaring that the MIC is ready "anytime, anywhere", Works Minister and party supremo Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today that he has the complete candidates list for the nine parliamentary and 19 state seats to be contested by the MIC under the Barisan Nasional (BN) banner.

"A few people have come to my office introducing themselves as candidates. I take their pictures but tell them to be a bit patient...however, we have completed the list to get approval from the prime minister. If we get his approval, we will announce his decision (on the candidates)," he said.

He told reporters this after receiving the accreditation letter for the MIC-run Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University from the Health Ministry here.

Present was acting Health Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, who is also Housing and Local Government Minister and MCA president.

Samy Vellu was confident that the majority of the Indian community would vote for the ruling BN in the election, especially after the top two leaders of the nation had promised the community that they would be taken care of.

"The Indian community are strong voters of the BN but some people have brought up certain things, saying marginalisation (of Indians) and many other things.

"But I must say that the BN leadership has taken good care of that. The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister have made several announcements to say that everything will be taken care of. I don't think in any other country will the Prime Minister come down to such a level to say that the issues will be taken care of.

"I know both of them. When they say something, they will do it. I'm very happy about what they have said but at the same time I must say that it is not that the Indian community is 50 years backward...maybe five years backward," he added.

Asked if he would make major changes to the list of MIC candidates for the country's 12th general election, he said in a jest that they would be in between the ages of 13 and 15 years.

"But seriously, if you put very young people, they don't know the tendency of politics. It is not a question of age but the heart and mind to take care of the people. Those who understand the people and their problems would be good candidates. "You will see a lot of new faces.

You will be surprised when you get the final approval from the PM on the candidates. We are actually turning the tables," he said. Asked if the timing of the dissolution of Parliament today was right, Samy Vellu said: "Issues exist everywhere, everytime. It is up to the capacity and capability of the politicians to handle it...I think we have the experience to handle it."

Quoted From
BERNAMA