Malaysian Indian Congress to contest by-election for Hulu Selangor seat

Shah Alam (Malaysia), Apr 8 (ANI): Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has said that the Malaysian Indian Congress will contest the by-election for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat.

The Prime Minister said that as Barisan Nasional chairman, he retained the right to decide who the candidate should be "because I want the coalition to win."

He said camaraderie among Barisan component parties was upheld in determining which party should contest the by-election on April 25, adding that Umno, MCA, Gerakan, PPP and other Barisan component parties would give their full backing to the chosen candidate.

"If we lose, it's not the MIC that loses but the Barisan. If we win, both the MIC and Barisan win," Najib told the Selangor Barisan Nasional convention here yesterday.

The Prime Minister advised the parties to stop speculating on the choice of candidate, assuring them that he would ensure that the best person was nominated, The Star reports.

He said the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat could not be regained from the Opposition without the support of all the communities in the constituency, saying the by-election presented a test for Selangor Barisan.

Najib said he believed the rejection of the Barisan in Selangor at the 2008 general election was only temporary. (ANI)