Speculations over MIC candidate for Hulu Selangor by-election

Kuala Kubu Baru (Malaysia), Apr 10(ANI): The announcement that a Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) candidate will contest the Hulu Selangor by-election has set off a flurry of speculations about who will be the candidate.

The Hulu Selangor Parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent MP Dr. Zainal Abidin Ahmad of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on April 2, due to brain cancer.

Barisan Nasional Chairman Seri Najib Razak, as chairman of the coalition, would choose the candidate from the MIC, the New Strait Times reports.

Speculations are rife that MIC Deputy President G. Palanivel, a four-term MP for Hulu Selangor, may be the prospective candidate.

According to reports, local MIC leaders acknowledge that Palanivel stands a good chance of winning should he be the candidate.

In the 2008 general election, Palanivel had lost to Dr. Zainal by 198 votes, but he had reportedly received about 52 percent of the Indian votes.

Names of four others are also being discussed, including that of information chief P. Kamalanathan, youth leader T. Mohan, his deputy V. Mugilan, who is also the Hulu Selangor Youth leader and party Secretary-General S. Murugesan. (ANI)