(Bernama) - Barisan Nasional (BN) is expected to face a "tough fight" in the much awaited 13th general election to maintain better majority although it has its advantage of being the party that has succesfully developed the country, former MIC chief S.Samy Vellu said.

"This will be an important election where the BN has to fight hard to obtain better majority. We should not underestimate the strength of the opposition," said the veteran politician.

BN component parties should work hand-in-hand in every area to make people understand the changes that have been brought about by the BN through its leader Najib Tun Razak, he told Bernama in an interview here.

"There have been grievances in the past, but the Prime Minister is striving to make good what have been lost last time," said Samy Vellu, 76, who is here to meet India’s Minister of Shipping GK Vasan concerning development projects under the ministry.

He met Vasan in his capacity as Malaysia’s Special Envoy of Infrastructure to India and Southern Asia.

Samy Vellu said all BN component parties should meet the people together.

"Be there together. Meet the people and understand what they expect from us and fulfill their request," he said.

Asked on the BN’s plus points, he said, BN created this nation and had brought development which gave opportunity for its citizen to lift up their life and live happily.

"These are the good points of BN," he said.

However, there were still some grievances; particularly in the Indian community, which had to be given attention before going into the next general election, he said.