COMMENT | Former DAP stalwart Ramasamy Palanisamy seems to think that his impending court case will be a shot in the arm for Urimai, his fledgling political party he founded in November 2023.

The professor is a very angry man ever since he left DAP in somewhat of a huff after he was dropped as a candidate in the six-state election in August 2023.

Since then, he has been consistently training his fire on his former party and those in power on a wide range of issues, especially those that concern the Indian community.

He formed Urimai ostensibly to fight for the cause of the community that he believed had been receiving a raw deal from the powers that be.

The former Penang deputy chief minister II is pinning all his hopes on Urimai, not only to relieve the plight of this small ethnic group but also to boost his political career.

Then comes this "blessing in disguise" in the form of a court case in which he is charged with criminal breach of trust (CBT).

Ramasamy claimed trial to all the 17 charges framed against him for allegedly committing CBT to the tune of RM850,000 in Penang Hindu Endowments Board’s funds. He was the board’s chairperson from 2010 to 2023.

The fighter in him promptly rose to the fore, condemning the charges as "politically motivated" but seeing the move as a "blessing" because it would make Urimai "more popular".

Time and again, when politicians are charged with criminal wrongdoing, they will scream "political persecution" as if they are angels who can do no wrong.

Champion of Indian community

Ramasamy has to put up a brave front for the sake of his party members and supporters who are looking up to him as, perhaps, an alternative leader of the Indian community.

But deep down, he must be a worried man because he will be in big trouble if all the criminal charges against him stick.

He is leading Urimai, and hence, he cannot afford to be seen as a tainted leader. Although he has failed to get his newborn "baby" registered, he claims this new Indian force is already a threat to Pakatan Harapan.

As Urimai champion, he must portray himself as someone with a clean slate who is sincerely and ardently working hard to redress the grievances of his long-suffering community.

It is difficult to gauge Urimai's popularity because his party has not been tested in electoral battles. It is unlikely it can jump into the 16th general election fray in time because of its unregistered status.

Nevertheless, Ramasamy is not giving up his fight in the court battle shaping up soon. He has vowed to clear his name, and that spirit of bravado might give a fillip to his supporters.

In the end, his court battle will decide his political fate. If he is acquitted, his and Urimai's fortune will soar to new heights and might even knock off feeble MIC from its pedestal to become a credible force in Malaysian politics.

And if he loses, Ramasamy, along with Urimai, will belong to the past - unmourned, unnoticed, forever forgotten.

PHLIP RODRIGUES is a retired journalist.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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