HULU SELANGOR, April 17 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties are confident that the coalition has made the right decision in picking MIC Information Chief P. Kamalanathan as the candidate in its quest to wrest back the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat.
MCA Deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the BN had a better chance judging from the huge turnout of about 10,000 highly-spirited BN supporters at today's nomination process.
"I am confident we will able to win this by-election. What we need to do now is to make sure we continue to receive a good support," he told reporters after the nomination process at Kuala Kubu Baharu Multipurpose Hall here today.
The MCA would go all out to support the BN candidate especially in all 13 new villages in the constituency, he said, adding that all MCA leaders had been instructed to concentrate on the constituency in the next seven campaigning days.
Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the spirit among BN machinery was high and that the selection of a new face as candidate augured well for them as it would give the coalition a fresh start.
"We will work closely with the BN machinery, particularly in solving issues and problems raised by the local population," he said.
Dr Koh also noted what he described as changes in terms of sentiment among the voters in favour of the BN this past few weeks, but said that the BN machinery would continue to work hard to win more support.
Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said with BN fielding a new candidate, it would make the party more appealing to the people.
"He (Kamalanathan) is our best choice and there is a lot of goodwill among the top BN leadership in reaching the decision to field him.
"I can see the mood among the people are much better now as compared to the last general election," he added.