The Indian Malaysian community will not fall for the political gimmick of the Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP), said DAP vice-chief M Kulasegaran today.

dap education roundtable meeting 111006 m kulasegaran The opposition leader said the party can only 'steal the name' but never the spirit of people’s power.

He added that the community will be able to call the bluff that MMSP is an independent party, and not under the influence of Barisan Nasional.

According to Kulasegaran, the new party led by RS Thanenthiran 'sounds like MIC, looks like MIC, but it is not MIC'.

It is, he added, another stooge of Umno.

'It will be another failure'

In view of this, the Ipoh Barat MP asked whether a truly independent party will invite the prime minister to officiate its launching?

Kulasegaran also posed three more questions regarding MMSP's non-partisan claim:

  • malaysia makkal sakti party official launch 190509 06 Will a truly independent party say it is working with the prime minister as partners?
  • Will a truly independent party pledge support for BN in the upcoming Bagan Pinang by-election?
  • Will a truly independent party have its application approved by the Registrar of Societies within a matter of weeks?

"Thanenthiran must bear in mind that he can hijack the makkal sakti slogan, but he can never hijack the makkal sakti spirit.

"Anyone or any political party that betrays the spirit, hopes and sacrifices of makkal sakti must be rejected by the Indian community," he said.

"Thanenthiran thinks he can lead the community like cattle with rings around their noses but he is mistaken as time will prove that his party is another failure," he added.

'Political opportunist'

Kulasegaran pointed out that rubbing shoulders with Umno leaders will not guarantee long-term survival as the party's lifeline is in the hands of the community.

suaram human rights award 091208 rs thanenthiran Taking Thanenthiran to task, the DAP leader accused the MMSP president of being a political opportunist.

"He abandoned Hindraf when he was not given the state seat in Kedah to contest and formed MMSP to further his political power with the assistance of BN," he said.

"Do you think the Indian community that has been sidelined for the past 52 years by BN will warm-up to an Umno political agent?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Kulasegaran said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's willingness to officiate the launching of MMSP on Oct 10 should not come as a surprise.

"Najib has realised that he cannot rely on MCA and MIC to regain non-Malay support, and has embarked on a strategy to woo non-Malay support directly," he added.