BN will lose Selangor because of Zul Noordin, Vell Paari warns
KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 – The Barisan Nasional (BN) will lose in Selangor this May 5 if the coalition insists on fielding Datuk Zulkifli Noordin in Shah Alam, MIC’s S. Vell Paari warned today in a text message to party president Datuk G. Palanivel.
The MIC leader said that by fielding Zulkifli, BN is risking the Indian vote, which he said would likely become the deciding vote in states like Selangor, now ruled by Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
According to the text message delivered to The Malaysian Insider from a party source tonight, Vell urged Palanivel to convey his concerns to Datuk Seri Najib Razak and asked for “favourable action” from the BN chairman, warning of a “disastrous situation” if not action is taken.
“Dear Datuk Seri G.Palanivel, Zulkifli Nordin being a BN candidate in Shah Alam is an insult to the Hindus in Malaysia. Everywhere people are getting emotional,” he said in the message, which was also sent to all MIC central working committee members.
The son of former party chief Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellul noted that in there are some 15,000 Indian voters in Shah Alam, 31,000 in Kota Raja, 21,000 in Kapar and 17,000 in Subang, many among whom he claimed were angered by Najib’s selection of Zulkifli.
“We could lose nearly 50 per cent to 70 per cent of Indian votes which could result in loss for MIC candidates especially in Selangor but with Indian voters being a deciding vote, it could result in BN failing to capture Selangor,” he said, adding a warning that the sentiment is also spreading to other states.
“Dato Seri we cannot be keeping silent and letting everyone to walk away with an apology after insulting our religion and community.
“Our leaders on the ground especially in Shah Alam are being abused verbally,” he said.
Vell ended the text message by saying he was merely observing party decorum by seeking action on Zulkifli’s candidacy through an appeal to the party president.
“This is my strategic advice as strategic director,” he said.
Vell (picture) later confirmed with The Malaysian Insider that he had sent the SMS.
When asked if he would accept the DAP’s challenge that he quit the party if Zulkifli is not dropped from BN’s candidates list, however, the party leader would not commit a “yes” answer.
“I can pose the same question to DAP. Today, PSM is having problems in PR over seat and logo issues. PSM have stated that ‘PKR is using racial reason to deny us the seat’.
“So will DAP quit PR over the use of racial reason to deny PSM seats by PR?” he said in an SMS.
Najib confirmed Zulkifli’s candidacy in Shah Alam when unveiling the coalition’s Selangor list yesterday, allowing the Kulim Bandar Baharu incumbent to run directly on a BN ticket.
The decision earned the caretaker prime minister much criticism, largely due to Zulkifli’s reputation as a Muslim hardliner, his post as the vice-president of Malay right wing group Perkasa and the recent controversy over his insults against the Hindu community.
A video of Zulkifli uttering the word “Keling”, which Malaysians of Indian descent consider derogatory, went viral recently, just days after another video was released in which he questioned an Indian trader on why Hindu gods did not prevent the man’s shop from being flooded, drawing the wrath of Hindus.
Once a lawyer for opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Zulkifli had also questioned the purity of the Ganges River, also known as Ganga in India, which is considered sacred by Hindus.
Zulkifli became a BN-friendly Independent MP and critical of the opposition when he was dismissed from PKR on March 6, 2010 over a police report he lodged against Shah Alam incumbent Khalid Abdul Samad.
Umno candidate Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin lost to Khalid in 2008 with a 9,314 majority. In 2004, he had won against Khalid with a 13,410 majority.
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