The naming of Perkasa’s Zulkifli Noordin as the BN candidate for Shah Alam is a tight slap in the face for the MIC and all other Indian leaders in the Barisan Nasional by UMNO, to say the least.

The MIC and all BN candidates must make a stand. Do they support Zulkifli’s candidacy and the Prime Minister’s choice for Shah Alam?

All this while, there have been calls by various quarters in the MIC for action to be taken against the likes of Ridhuan Tee for what they described as insensitive remarks made against the Indian community.

MIC’s Vell Paari even went to the extent of saying he was prepared to quit MIC and even called on the Indians to vote for Pakatan if no action was taken against Ridhuan. Vell Paari was rebuked by Perkasa for this. Perkasa not only defended Ridhuan’s writing but also said there was no need for him to apologise.

In light of all this, we still see the president of BN, Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak, who has wooed the Indian community using the catchphrase ‘Nambikai’, acting in complete disregard of the feelings of the Indian community by fielding Zulkifli, a Perkasa man as his ‘transformation candidate’ in Shah Alam.

The MIC should state its stand on this most serious matter. It cannot blow hot and cold, and ask Malaysians to now support BN.

If MIC remains quiet, which in all probability it will because it doesn’t have the guts to stand up to UMNO in defence of the Indian community, then Vell Paari must do what he threatened to do earlier, that is to quit MIC and call upon all Indians not to support BN in this election.

Gobind Singh Deo

Member of Parliament for Puchong