AN MIC leader has justified his participation in a Perikatan Nasional (PN) hi-tea event in Tanjong Karang by stating Barisan Nasional (BN) is not fielding a candidate for the Permatang seat in the Selangor elections.

MIC central working committee member K.R. Parthiban, a former Ijok assemblyman, said the message to MIC members from its leadership was clear, which is to support BN candidates.

The Tanjong Karang parliamentary constituency has two state seats – Sungai Burong and Permatang.

BN is fielding Mohamad Khir Ramli in Sungai Burong while PKR’s Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri will be contesting the Permatang seat.

“We were told to support BN. About helping other parties, it remains a question mark,” Parthiban told The Malaysian Insight.

“So for the (Permatang) state seat in the Tanjong Karang parliamentary constituency, it is contested by PKR.

“They (PKR) are my arch-enemy. They have worked against me (previously). Now you expect me or my members here to work hand in hand with them? Definitely not.

“We’ve suffered a lot in the past from PKR supporters. I cannot imagine holding their (PKR/PH) flag, sitting in their tent and working together.

“If I was against BN, then I’m betraying BN. But it is a PKR candidate here.”

Parthiban’s enmity towards PKR is rooted in the party’s candidate ending his term as the Ijok assemblyman.

He first won the seat in a 2007 by-election by a majority of 1,850 votes, beating Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, from PKR.

Khalid, who went on to become Selangor menteri besar, then defended the constituency. Partiban has not been able to wrest the seat back from PKR candidates in subsequent polls.

MIC, is a component party of BN, a coalition that backs the unity government, helmed by Pakatan Harapan.

On Sunday, Bersatu Supreme Council member Mohamed Azmin Ali announced that Parthiban would lead the secretariat of PN Supporters Club (for Indians) for the North Selangor Zone, launched on the same day.

Azmin said the leadership and MIC members from Tanjong Karang, Kuala Selangor, Sabak Bernam, Sungai Besar and Hulu Selangor had pledged to help PN in the said zone.

Partiban said he had attended the event on his own accord and affirmed that he would back PN in the state polls.

He also said he would help former Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar, whose daughter is expected to run for the Permatang seat.

“I’m still with MIC, but in the Tanjong Karang (parliamentary constituency), I will back PN because ‘my boss’ Noh Omar’s daughter will be contesting,” Parthiban told The Malaysian Insight.

Partiban was Noh’s special assistant for a period after he lost his assembly seat.

Noh’s daughter, Nurul Syazwani Noh, is expected to contest on the Bersatu ticket.

Parthiban said he never forced any MIC member to attend the Sunday meeting.

“The offer was just to attend, but it seems like they have already made up their mind,” he said.

“They also don’t want to work with PKR or PH candidates. They are more willing to work with PN.”

Parthiban said thus far, he has not been reprimanded by MIC for participating in the PN event or taking up Azmin’s offer to lead the secretariat of PN Supporters Club.

‘We’ll get his side of the story’

MIC secretary-general R.T. Rajasekaran told The Malaysian Insight that the party will look into Parthiban’s participation in the PN event.

“We don’t have the facts behind it (Parthiban’s participation),” he said.

“We just cannot rely on news reports. We need to get some information from Parthiban himself.

“I will need to call him and get his side of the story. There is a process to it.”

Nevertheless, a source from MIC revealed that Parthiban had sought the approval of party president S.A. Vigneswaran before participating.

“The top leadership gave the go-ahead only to Parthiban (to back PN) during the last CWC meeting, but it was said to have been given on the quiet,” the source said.

The elections in Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Negri Sembilan will be held simultaneously on August 12.

Nomination day is on July 29 while early voting is on August 8.

A total of 245 seats will be contested – 32 in Terengganu, 36 each in Kedah and Negri Sembilan, Penang (40), Kelantan (45) and Selangor (56). – July 26, 2023.