IJOK By-Election: An ALL Indians Affair? BN Candidate - Parthiban; Independent: Businessman K. Loganadan; PKR: Kepong Datuk S. Nallakaruppan?

DISARRAY in BN over Choice of Ijok Candidate Parthiban Over Kuala Selangor MIC Division chief S.P. Thirumoorthy; who Left Party Disgusted; Najib Lashed out his Whip: All BN Component parties must support BN Candidate

ABOVE: The chosen one Parthiban, 38 with Datuk Samy Vellu, after the announcement. How can RTM1 telecast live this BN announcement, a political event?

April 16, 2007 22:03 PM

Kuala Selangor Chief Quits MIC

KUALA SELANGOR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Kuala Selangor MIC Division chief S.P. Thirumoorthy said Monday he was leaving the party because he was not picked as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate to contest the Ijok state by-election later this month. He made the announcement after Selangor Menteri Besar and BN chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo announced K. Parthiban, 38, the Tanjung Karang MIC secretary, as the BN candidate for the by-election, nomination for which is on April 19 and polling on April 28. Thirumoorthy, 55, a secondary school teacher, claimed that MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had not taken into consideration his long years of service with the party.

He also denied that he had backstabbed the party by supporting an independent candidate against the BN's Datuk K. Sivalingam in the 2004 general election in the constituency. Sivalingam, who won the seat then, died of a heart attack in Chennai on April 4, necessitating the by-election. On his future in politics, Thirumoorthy said he would take a break and then discuss it with his supporters. Thirumoorthy, who had been the division chief since 1994, had on Sunday threatened to resign from the post if he was not selected to contest the seat on a BN ticket. He has also claimed that the chairmen of 18 of the 36 MIC branches in the constituency would also resign.
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April 16, 2007 20:14 PM

BN Picks Parthiban As Candidate For Ijok By-election

KUALA SELANGOR, April 16 (Bernama) -- A former Co-Academic officer at the Kuala Selangor District Education Office, K. Parthiban, 38, was chosen as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate in the by-election for the Ijok state constituency today. Selangor BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, who is also Selangor Menteri Besar, made the announcement in front of about 3,000 BN supporters at Dewan Harmoni, Batang Berjuntai, here Monday afternoon. All those present in the hall gave a loud applause to demonstrate their solid support to Parthiban as soon as he was announced as the candidate at 5.20pm. The event was broadcast live on TV over RTM 1.Among those present were MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, his deputy Datuk G. Palanivel, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy and Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

In his speech shortly after he was introduced by Dr Mohamad Khir, Parthiban promised the BN supporters and voters in the Ijok state constituency that he would continue the tradition of the BN to champion the cause of the people regardless of race or religion. "I will ensure that the BN retains the seat and I appeal to you all to help me (do it)," he said. He also pledged to continue implementation of all the current and future development programmes by the government. Born on Oct 6, 1968 in Ladang Raja Musa, Kuala Selangor, Parthiban, who is also the secretary of the MIC Tanjung Karang division and a former Co-Academic Officer at the Kuala Selangor District Education Office, holds key positions in several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including as president of the Council of the Federation of Kuala Selangor District Youth Associations. He is also chairman of the Tanjung Karang Hindu Youth Organisation (HYO) and the Ladang Raja Musa Rukun Tetangga sector and a former secretary of the Kuala Selangor Tamil Youth Club from 1990 to 2001.

Parthiban has a Masters in Education Management from the University of Malaya and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree from the same university. He joined MIC in 1989 and among the key political posts he held was as special officer to the Tanjung Karang Member of Parliament, personal representative of the Permatang Assemblyman for the Indian community, a committee member of the Tanjung Karang Barisan Nasional, and head of the Kampung Bukit Belimbing MIC branch. Parthiban is also a member of the Kuala Selangor District Counci

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April 16, 2007 15:33 PM

Members Of BN Components Must Support Candidate For Ijok - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today said that all members of Barisan Nasional (BN) components especially the MIC must accept and fully support the candidate nominated to defend the Ijok state seat. The deputy prime minister who is also the BN deputy chairman, said the decision of whom would be nominated was made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after a deep scrutiny."The important thing is the decision that we make on the candidate is to select one who is thought to be the most suitable to ensure victory for the BN. "So, as party members, we have to accept the decision. That's the meaning of us serving the party and abiding by the party's principles," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the Malaysian Smart School International Conference here. He was commenting on a threat by Kuala Selangor MIC chief P. Thirumoorthy to resign from the post if he was not named as the BN candidate for the Ijok by-election.

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April 16, 2007 22:15 PM E-mail this news to a friend Printable version of this news

Register By August For Eligibility To Vote If Election Before December

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysians who have yet to register as voters have until August to do so to be eligible to vote in the next general election if it is to be held towards the end of the year. Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said this was because it took three to four months before the names can be included in the electoral roll. "After August, I cannot guarantee that the names can be included in the electoral roll if the election is held towards the end of the year," he told a press conference after launching a nationwide campaign to register new voters here, Monday. Abdul Rashid said there were about 4.9 million Malaysians eligible to vote who had yet to register with the EC, of which 80 per cent are urban youths aged from 21 to 30 years. Selangor had the highest number of people who had not registered to be voters at 745,515, followed by Johor at 583,000 and Perak 410,000. Asked if the campaign was a hint that the election was very near, Abdul Rashid said: "It is all in the hands of the party in power. It reserves the right to call for an election anytime before its five-year term is up. We are preparing ourselves should it be called before the year is out." The last general election was held in March 2004 and under the Westminster system practised here, the government need not call for one until March 2009.

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The unselected and disappointed outsider is a bitter Division leader P. Thirumoorthy, 55, the Kuala Selangor MIC Chief who has been in the post since 1994 expressed his frustration at a media conference on Sunday. Once again, this Ijok By-election shows the quarrelsome and emotional nature of the Indians. There are TOO many Chiefs vying for limited posts for the Indian community everywhere. They are a force to be reckoned as such but when there is no accommodation, you can see this infighting that is taking place now in MIC and in PKR.

With the independent coming in and the split in MIC, the PKR candidate might stand a remote chance considering the small majorrty in the last GE obtained by Datuk Sivalingam

= = == the Spat between Samy Vellu & the Kuala Selangor Chief

“The most eligible candidate is the Ketua MIC Bahagian. I am not blowing my own trumpet; that is the justification of the voters. The most eligible; they say why can’t you be given a chance. You are here; you have been serving so long. And they say “if you are a candidate, we don’t have to campaign. BN is sure of a victory if P. Thirumoorthy can be considered as a candidate. That is the advice I received from the voters. Any opposition will not go through. In this situation, why the party can’t considered an eligible candidate who can bring victory to Barisan. If you are going to bring a local born (referring to the chosen candidate) here but staying in Klang, that candidate doesn't know people here.

Whereas the committee here is part and parcel of the community here; you have been serving here, you have been going in an out. That is the stand, why? why? I am from MIC and I am also from Barisan. We have been serving we have been helping and assisted all the candidates not only Tan Sri M S Maniam, Datuk Mahalingam, Datuk Sivalinam, Yang Amat Dihormati Tan Sri Haji Dr Abu Hassan for 25 years. 25 years I have worked for him who has been the Federal Minister, who has been the Mentri Besar. So where do you put my service?

Menwhile Datuk Samy Velu said he was not moved by the statement and noted that the Kuala Selangor chief does not deserve to be a candidate.

Datuk Samy: “There were a lot of complaints about him. I said “ let the chairman who is elected be there” Otherwise we would have dissolved the cawangan and called for new election.
“Anyway I appreciate him for bite backing the party. Tell you the fact; we are not an inch worry about it. I will never like to meet him again. We don’t like traitors

ABOVE: Samy closed his eyes in anger after calling Thiru a "traitor"

Responding to threats if he is not selected, BN might be on a losing en“I have also support of 98% of the branches; if you want I can bring them here tomorrow” Samy Vellu refused to bow to pressure to change the candidate to be announced by 5 pm on Monday.

ABOVE:Hishammudin: "Beginning today , we must move forward, activate the operations room until elections day”

ABOVE: Selangor MB Mohd Toyo: “The BN has proven its mark for the people. The opposition merely talk of issuing a white paper to administer the government”

Parthiban tipped to contest in Ijok

By A. LETCHUMANAN

KUALA LUMPUR: Tanjung Karang MIC division secretary K. Parthiban is tipped to be named the candidate for the Ijok state seat which fell vacant following the death of Datuk K. Sivalingam on April 4. Sources said Parthiban, 38, who was an officer in the Kuala Selangor education department, had tendered his resignation on Friday. Though MIC officials refused to confirm this, it is believed that Parthiban was chosen as he was born in the Raja Moosa Estate in Kuala Selangor.

A week ago, during a meeting with Selangor MIC chairman Datuk G. Palanivel, the component parties had indicated that they wanted a local to be the candidate. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo is scheduled to announce the Barisan candidate today. Parthiban, who previously taught in schools in Kuala Selangor and Tanjung Karang, was also the special assistant to Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar, who is also Tanjung Karang MP. MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who met the Kuala Selangor MIC branch leaders late on Saturday, said the person chosen as the candidate would be someone who is able to work with all the Barisan component parties and the people. He said that the party had nominated two lawyers and a teacher to be considered as the candidate and one of them had been chosen for the seat. Samy Vellu had said that 23 people had submitted applications to be considered for the seat but the one chosen was not among them.
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April 15, 2007 20:00 PM

Businessman To Contest As Independent In Ijok By-election

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- A, announced today he would contest as an independent in the Ijok state by-election. Loganadan told Bernama his decision to contest was not on the instigation of anyone but to fulfil his desire to serve the rural folk. He claimed the area had not tasted much development and progress under the previous assemblyman. Loganadan, 47, who lives in Klang, was born in Caledonian Estate, near Ijok town. He received his primary education at a Tamil school there and went to a secondary school in Batang Berjuntai and Batu Arang. "I'm a local boy who lived in Ijok for 18 years and I'm very familiar with the people's problems in the constituency," said Loganadan, who is also deputy president of Kelab Motivasi Insan Cemerlang Selangor, a non-governmental organisation. Claiming that he was an MIC member for about eight years, Loganadan said he had many relatives and friends in Caledonian Estate, which comes under the Ijok constituency. The Barisan Nasional (BN) would announce its candidate in Ijok tomorrow at a function attended by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo and MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

The BN candidate from MIC has been endorsed by Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The Ijok seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent BN assemblyman Datuk K. Sivalingam, 59, of a heart attack in Chennai, India, on April 4. The Election Commission has set Thursday for nomination and April 28 for polling in the event of a contest. Meanwhile, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information chief Tian Chua said the party would announce its candidate on Tuesday.

Monday April 16, 2007; STAR

Trouble brewing in PKR over nomination

KUALA LUMPUR: Trouble is brewing in Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) even before nomination day. The party was to have revealed its candidate after a meeting yesterday but chose to announce the shortlisted candidates instead – national treasurer Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Kepong division chairman Datuk S. Nallakaruppan. However, the party’s Indian leaders, who have been pushing for an Indian candidate, are convinced that the leadership has settled on Khalid. Youth vice chief S. Manikavasagam claimed the choice was made by the political bureau on Saturday.

The group, he said, would hold a meeting on Tuesday, to be chaired by Nallakaruppan, to decide on their next course of action. PKR vice-president Azmin Ali stressed that the council decided to defer naming the candidate as a “tactical move.” Meanwhile DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng said the party’s central executive committee would meet on Tuesday to discuss the by-election. “We have already indicated to PKR that there were calls for an Indian to be allowed to contest. There was no reaction from them,” he said. Meanwhile, businessman K. Loganadan announced yesterday that he would contest as an independent. Loganadan, 47, was born in Caledonia Estate, near Ijok town. “I'm a local boy who lived in Ijok for 18 years and I'm very familiar with the people's problems,” said Loganadan. – Bernama

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2007/04/16

MIC division chief threatens to quit

BATANG BERJUNTAI: The MIC Kuala Selangor division chief and 33 branch heads aligned to him have threatened to resign following a disagreement over the party’s candidate for the Ijok by-election.

Division leader P. Thirumoorthy (ABOVE), 55, said he was disappointed that party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had overlooked him for the seat despite his many years of service in the MIC. "I have been in the party for more than 30 years and the grassroots want me to contest. "If I am the candidate, there is no need to campaign. We will surely win as I know the people here," he said at a press conference. The MIC candidate for the seat will be officially announced today about 5pm in Ijok.

It is understood that the candidate will be 38-year-old K. Parthiban, who is Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar’s special officer in his Tanjung Karang parliamentary constituency. Thirumoorthy said he would only resign from his division post but remain as a party member. "I am a loyal supporter of Samy Vellu and will always work for the party. However, the feelings of the grassroots here are very strong. They never consulted us before deciding on the candidate." He wanted the party leadership to reconsider the decision on the candidate. Samy Vellu, who was at the MIC service centre just 100 metres away, said the choice of the candidate was up to the party president. "If he wants to leave, he can do so and I don’t feel threatened about this."

He also refuted Thirumoorthy’s claims of support in many branches, saying he was the division chief only because he had been saved by the party president from the division’s in-fighting. Former teacher Parthiban, who is single, is currently a co-academic officer at the Kuala Selangor district education department. He was born in Ladang Raja Musa, Kuala Selangor, and has a Master’s in Education from Universiti Malaya.