KUALA LUMPUR: Initially, he had dismissed MIC deputy president G Palanivel as a “problematic” candidate for the upcoming Hulu Selangor by-election. He then made a 180-degree turn, arguing that tradition must be honoured and MIC should be allowed to contest the seat.
Former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's sudden change of heart puzzled many. And speculation is rife that there is something more to it.
It is an open secret that Umno wants the parliamentary seat, where the majority of voters are Malays. In this context, it appears odd that Khir, a senior Umno leader himself, would choose to lobby for MIC instead.
The talk in Umno circles is that Khir wants to ensure that another former menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib, popularly known as “Mike Tyson”, does not enter the ring should the seat go Umno's way.
Despite, Deputy Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional elections director Muhyiddin Yassin stating that an MIC candidate will be fielded, Muhammad's supporters continue to campaign for their leader.
Banners of Muhammad have been strung up at various places in Hulu Selangor, a similar tactic employed by the supporters of former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Mohd Isa Samad prior to him being named as the candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election last year.
This is to exert pressure on the Umno leadership to field a candidate from the party, or risk seeing protest votes, or perhaps even independent candidates.
MP outranks a state rep
A victory for Muhammad would fortify his position in Selangor and give him somewhat of an upper hand in the silent war between him and Khir.
It was because of the tussle between these two Umno warlords that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak appointed himself as Selangor Umno chief, to prevent a major crack in the state which fell into the hands of Pakatan Rakyat in the last general election.
Currently, Muhammad is not an elected rep whereas Khir is a state assemblyman, and this gives the latter a slight edge. But if Muhammad becomes a MP, then it is a new ballgame altogether.
Furthermore, a MP in terms of status, outranks a state assemblyperson, an unsettling scenario for the dentist-turned-politician.
However, an Umno insider, who wished to remain anonymous, urged his party to stick to the formula and let MIC take on PKR for the seat.
“We have switched seats with MIC in the past, during general elections. When we took their seats, we gave them another. But to take a traditional MIC seat during a by-election will further erode the support of non-Malays and also see protest votes from the local MIC camps.
"Anyway this is PKR seat; it's better we lose this seat rather than lose the support of the non-Malays, especially the Indians who are coming back to BN after Najib took over as PM,” he told FMT.
The Hulu Selangor seat fell vacant following the death of PKR's Zainal Abidin Ahmad, who defeated three-term MP Palanivel by a razor-thin majority of 198 votes in the 2008 general election.
Muhyiddin said BN will announce its candidate on April 15, while PKR remains tightlipped on this. Nomination is on April 17 and the by-election will be held on April 25.
FMT
05/04/10
Former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's sudden change of heart puzzled many. And speculation is rife that there is something more to it.
It is an open secret that Umno wants the parliamentary seat, where the majority of voters are Malays. In this context, it appears odd that Khir, a senior Umno leader himself, would choose to lobby for MIC instead.
The talk in Umno circles is that Khir wants to ensure that another former menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib, popularly known as “Mike Tyson”, does not enter the ring should the seat go Umno's way.
Despite, Deputy Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional elections director Muhyiddin Yassin stating that an MIC candidate will be fielded, Muhammad's supporters continue to campaign for their leader.
Banners of Muhammad have been strung up at various places in Hulu Selangor, a similar tactic employed by the supporters of former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Mohd Isa Samad prior to him being named as the candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election last year.
This is to exert pressure on the Umno leadership to field a candidate from the party, or risk seeing protest votes, or perhaps even independent candidates.
MP outranks a state rep
A victory for Muhammad would fortify his position in Selangor and give him somewhat of an upper hand in the silent war between him and Khir.
It was because of the tussle between these two Umno warlords that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak appointed himself as Selangor Umno chief, to prevent a major crack in the state which fell into the hands of Pakatan Rakyat in the last general election.
Currently, Muhammad is not an elected rep whereas Khir is a state assemblyman, and this gives the latter a slight edge. But if Muhammad becomes a MP, then it is a new ballgame altogether.
Furthermore, a MP in terms of status, outranks a state assemblyperson, an unsettling scenario for the dentist-turned-politician.
However, an Umno insider, who wished to remain anonymous, urged his party to stick to the formula and let MIC take on PKR for the seat.
“We have switched seats with MIC in the past, during general elections. When we took their seats, we gave them another. But to take a traditional MIC seat during a by-election will further erode the support of non-Malays and also see protest votes from the local MIC camps.
"Anyway this is PKR seat; it's better we lose this seat rather than lose the support of the non-Malays, especially the Indians who are coming back to BN after Najib took over as PM,” he told FMT.
The Hulu Selangor seat fell vacant following the death of PKR's Zainal Abidin Ahmad, who defeated three-term MP Palanivel by a razor-thin majority of 198 votes in the 2008 general election.
Muhyiddin said BN will announce its candidate on April 15, while PKR remains tightlipped on this. Nomination is on April 17 and the by-election will be held on April 25.
FMT
05/04/10
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