The emergence of the new party Makkal Sakti as an alternative political party for the Indian community will not affect the MIC, said MIC vice-president Dr S Subramaniam.

He said the MIC still had the support of the majority of the Indian community in the country and that its members would not join the new party.

"The Indian community realises and knows that only the MIC had brought development to the Indian community in the country," he told reporters last night.

The Makkal Sakti party, led by RS Thanenthiran, is to be launched by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on Oct 10.

The party claims to have more than 50,000 members and is expected to attract many MIC members and former leaders.

- Bernama