The leadership tussle in the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) can be dealt with more effectively through proper mediation, said a political analyst.

Political analyst Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said a mediation system or negotiation process, headed by a third party as mediator to assist people who are involved in disputes, especially in a political leadership crisis, could help expedite and provide an amicable solution to solving the problem.

NONE "Though mediation is not obligatory for disputing parties, it would provide a platform for them to settle their differences without going through the long court processes.

"In a trial, there will be a winner and a loser, but through mediation, it is a win-win situation. So, there has to be a compromise to reach an agreement," he said..

The MMSP has been rocked by internal conflict since the end of last year when a faction aligned to president RS Thanenthiran and another aligned to deputy president A Vathemurthy ( above ) each expelled one another and taking their woes to the Registrar of Society (ROS).

    

The party was launched by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on Oct 10 and was seen as a catalyst to win back declining Indian support for the Barisan Nasional.

Sivamurugan suggested that Barisan Nasional and Umno Secretary-General Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor play the role of mediator to solve the MMSP’s leadership crisis. He also said that there was no need for a new party like the Makkal Sakti to have fresh elections immediately to resolve its woes.

‘Avoid being non-factor’

Another political analyst, Dr Denison Jayasooria, also agreed with the suggestion that the party's leadership tussle be resolved through the intervention of a mediator and arbitrator.

"A professional mediator can reduce the emotional trauma of the interested parties," said the Suhakam commissioner.

    

vwaishhnnavi letter to abu talib 060208 denison jayasooria Jayasooria ( right ) also said that MMSP was discredited by its own personality conflict and, as such, the leaders should set aside their personal differences.

He said that this was necessary to defuse the crisis and to prevent the party from losing the support of the Malaysian community. "Makkal Sakti should resolve its internal conflict as soon as possible to avoid it being a 'non-factor' during the 13th  general election," he said.

The MMSP is a splinter of the once-banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and in the initial stages looked set to be a formidable force to challenge the MIC as the voice of the nation's 1.8 million Indians.

However, its current leadership tussle has left nagging questions over the party's future.

– Bernama