PADANG SERAI: The unity government will consider a suitable role for Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk C. Sivaraj who had agreed to withdraw from the Padang Serai parliamentary election unconditionally to make way for Pakatan 'sHarapan candidate.
In praising the MIC central working committee member, PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said as a young leader, Sivaraj definitely had a role to play in the new federal government.
"I was involved in the discussion with Tan Sri Vicky (MIC president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran).
"In the spirit of the unity government comprising both blocks (PH and BN), in Tioman state seat election, PH withdrew from the race and to reciprocate, Sivaraj chose to withdraw (his candidacy) in Padang Serai.
"I must stress over and over again that his (Sivaraj's) withdrawal was made without any condition, similar to PH's withdrawal in Tioman," he told reporters after attending a rally for the Padang Serai parliamentary election at Lunas here tonight.
In appreciation of Sivaraj's gesture, Saifuddin, who is home minister, said the unity government would certainly consider a role for him to play.
"In the new government that has been formed, certainly the young leaders like him will have a rightful position which we will give due consideration," he said.
Earlier, both Sivaraj and PH candidate Dr Mohamad Sofee Razak appeared on the stage in a show of unity between the two parties.
It was Sivaraj's first appearance in PH's rally since Kedah BN chairman Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom announced on Friday that the party was withdrawing from the race in Padang Serai and pledged full support for PH candidate.
The Padang Serai parliamentary seat was previously held by PH's M. Karupaiya when he secured a 8,813 vote-majority win in GE14, beating MCA candidate Datuk Dr Leong Yong Kong and Mohammad Sobri Osman from Pas.
Karupaiya, 69, was nominated again by PH on Nov 5 to defend the seat. However, he died on Nov 16, two days after being admitted to Kulim Hospital due to a heart attack while campaigning.
Following his death, the Election Commission had decided to postpone the Padang Serai polls to Dec 7.
Padang Serai has 133,767 eligible voters, with 81,230 of the voters in Lunas state constituency while the remaining 52,546 voters in Merbau Pulas constituency.
Despite having withdrawn, Sivaraj's name will still be on the ballot paper alongside Sofee's, as well as Datuk Azman Nasrudin (Perikatan Nasional), Hamzah Abd Rahman (Parti Pejuang Tanah Air), Mohd Bakhri Hashim (Parti Warisan) and independent candidate Sreanandha Rao.
Warisan had also announced earlier that it was pulling out from the race.