MIC president S.A. Vigneswaran today confirmed that the party will stand the Batu parliamentary seat as allocated by Barisan Nasional (BN) yesterday. 

He dismissed MCA president Wee Ka Siong’s claims today that the Chinese-based party was given the nod to contest in Batu instead of MIC.

“This one (MCA contesting in Batu) I don’t know.  I’m not sure what Batu he (Wee) is talking about,” Vigneswaran said at a press conference following the party’s central working committee (CWC) meeting today at its headquarters. 

Earlier today, Wee, at a press conference, said that MCA will be standing the Batu federal constituency instead of MIC following discussions with BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last night. 

Wee said it was agreed MCA would contest in Batu after the party “handed” the Padang Serai seat to MIC.

Vigneswaran said any announcement regarding election seats has to come from the coalition chairman and not from party presidents. 

“Any announcement on such a decision has to come from the BN chairman and not from party presidents. 

“The seat (Batu) was between us and Kimma, MCA wasn’t in the picture at all,” he said, referring to the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress.

“Finally, Kimma was sent to Puchong and we got Batu.”

Vigneswaran also said that it is too late now to talk about a seat swap, especially in the Batu constituency. 

“It is too late now. We will contest in Batu,” he said. – November 2, 2022.