MIC combines two factors to determine GE14 candidates: Dr Subramaniam

SEGAMAT: Choosing the right candidate and current political needs are two factors that must go hand-in-hand in determining MIC candidates for the 14th General Election (GE14), according to party president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.
He said the two factors were very important for the MIC to aim for victory in seven parliamentary seats and 13 state seats, from the 28 seats expected to be contested in the election.
"All parties need to do the same, too ... everybody wants to appoint a candidate who will not lose. We are doing everything we can to look for winnable candidates.
"However, in determining candidates, we also need to factor in the political needs...(there is a need) to match these two things," he told reporters after opening the 'Mesra Rakyat' National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) Fiesta at the Jementah Public Field here today.
Also present were Finance Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah and Health Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min.
Dr Subramaniam, who is also Health Minister, was commenting on a Bernama special report dated March 15 that MIC had to make the smart move for the GE14 in order to win the hearts of the voters and wrest those seats won by the opposition in GE12 and GE13.
He said choosing the GE14 candidates was not just a challenge that needed to be faced by the MIC but also other parties, as well.
"At the end of the day, when we have eventually decided to choose the best candidate, there must be people (out there) saying that (the candidate) is not the best for them although we thought that person is already the right one," he noted.
Meanwhile, Dr Subramaniam said MIC was now ready to announce the party's candidate to contest in the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat in GE14, pending instructions from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
On the 'Mesra Rakyat' NBOS Fiesta, Dr Subramaniam said the programme had gathered about 80 government agencies and served to provide various benefits to society, as well as giving them the opportunity to better understand the government's methods and strategies in developing the country.
The Segamat parliamentary-level NBOS fiesta, attended by approximately 15,000 visitors, was the fourth of such events after Kluang, Johor which was held on Feb 11; Pekan, Pahang (Sept 23, 2017) and Bagan Datuk, Perak (Nov 19, 2017). — Bernama