KIMMA, or the Indian Muslim Malaysian Congress wants the government to look into the issues and problems faced by their community.

NONE The party's new party president, Mohd Fazil William Abdullah says that children from the community find it difficult to gain entrance into university.

Apart from that, many in the community are also facing health problems that require them to undergo dialysis treatment.

He was, however grateful that he was able to assist the community by recommending eligible members a government loan scheme, known as Tekun, that was recently launched by then Najib administration.

The loan scheme was useful as some members were forced to borrow from loan sharks.

"One definite way that would enable us to assist the Indian Muslim community is by allowing the party to be a member of the Barisan Nasional coalition," said the Kimma president during an interview with Malaysiakini .

Party support for BN

The political party was formed 33 years ago and has attempted to join BN five times since the time of second premier Abdul Razak Hussein.

NONE Fazil said he would be paying Prime Minister and BN chairman Najib Abdul Razak a visit to negotiate for Kimma's entrance into the coalition soon.

He also added that he ‘hopes to receive a positive response from Najib on this matter soon'.

"We have done our work on the ground and we are longing to join the party."

Likening the party to soccer players who are bench warmers, Fazil says that Kimma wants a role to play in BN as it would be able to ensure the Indian Muslim votes go to the coalition.

Fazil also promised that the party would be able to convince the 500 odd Indian Muslims in Bagan Pinang to vote for BN as the party has 100 members there.

Fazil said that "80,000 out of 800,000 Indian Muslims in the country are members of the party".

"We are confident of bringing the remainder 720,000 Indian Muslims to vote for BN."

Fazil also told Malaysiakini that the party would be holding a road show soon to explain the 1Malaysia concept to its community.

The new party leader was also asked on how he had become party president on September 26 this year as he had been axed in April this year as Kuala Lumpur party head.

Fazil then referred the issue to the Registrar of Societies and got himself reinstated as there was also a tussle over party leadership between former president Syed Ibrahim Abdul Kader and the former deputy Amir Hamza Allah Pitchay.

"To save the party from being deregistered, the members held an emergency general meeting (EGM)," said Fazil.

During the EGM, held on Sept 26, the members elected him as president.