KUALA LUMPUR: With all eyes on the Batu Parliament seat, independent candidate Datuk V. M. Panjamothy expressed willingness to join PKR, if that was a better way for him to serve the people.
Although he has declined to divulge whether are any ongoing discussions on the matter, the first time candidate said his mission and determination to serve will not be deterred.
The Batu constituency, which was a PKR stronghold for the past 10 years, is now one of the nation’s main focus following Tian Chua’s disqualification as a candidate on nomination day.
While Tian Chua has sought for a court decision on his “unfair” disqualification, there has been suggestions for PKR to endorse one of the independent candidates in Batu as their representative in the constituency.
Panjamothy told theSun he will join the party officially and pledge support to the ideologies of PKR and Pakatan Harapan if they decide to endorse him.
“I am definitely open for discussions as this would only benefit the constituents. It will be a win-win situation,” he said.
Born and bred in Sentul, the 62-year-old activist and businessman is not a new face in most part of Batu due to his social works in the community through various NGOs and in MIC in the past 40 years.
“Due to my involvement in social works, I am well-known among all races in Sentul and the support I have received from the people so far have been encouraging.
“I decided to contest this time to seek more empowerment. With more empowerment I will have more say and will be able to voice out grouses at a higher level,” Panjamothy said.
He said the face of this constituency has changed tremendously over the years but despite the development there are a few pending issues that need to be addressed urgently.
“We have housing issues involving a relocation process of traditional settlement which has been pending for four years.
“The residents of the low cost flats here do not have a decent place to conduct funeral rituals because there is no funeral parlour. It is a shame when people have conduct the rituals in a makeshift tent.
“Other than that, the over-development in Batu has not just increased the density and high traffic volume here but also affected the Hindu temples, where they are yet to get relocation places,” Panjamothy said.
Admitting that it would not be an easy task to reach out to the over 70,000 voters by going on a door-to-door campaign, the determined activist believes a personal touch is more effective when reaching out to people.
On his resignation as a member from MIC, Panjamothy expressed grave disappointment when his contributions to the party and service to the community went unrecognised.
Having served for over 30 years in MIC from grassroot level, the former central working committee member said it was frustrating when there was “no justice in real hard work”.
Panjamothy had submitted his resignation to MIC secretariat one day before nomination day when he decided to contest as an independent.
