The Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) faction led by A Vethemurthy is pressuring Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to do more for the Indian community.

He said Najib must concentrate on improving the welfare and economic conditions of the Indian community should Barisan Nasional hope to regain the community's confidence.

“How do you expect the Indian community, which is economically marginalised, to support BN in the coming 13th general elections if you do not give them the economic growth engine they badly need,” he told Malaysiakini.

Vethemurthy’s assertive position is a departure from that of ‘ousted’ MMSP president R Thanenthiran, who is more passive in making demands from Najib.

In October last year, Najib became the first BN president to officiate the launch of a party outside the coalition.

The move was seen as an the premier’s endorsement of MMSP and a slap in the face for the ailing MIC, a founding member of BN.

According to Vethemurthy, the woes of the Indian community can be pinned on various shortcomings during the Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s tenure as prime minister.

Regaining full support

“The social and economic interest of the Indian community were sidelined during the Mahathir-era. The community did not get civil service jobs, education opportunities, scholarships and business loans,” he alleged.

This must be addressed by Najib in order for BN to regain full support of the Indian community, as it had enjoyed since independence until the March 2008 general elections.

Noting that Indians make up 10 percent of the population, there are many electoral constituencies where Indian voters are the kingmakers and thus Najib ought to give more attention on the community.

Vethemurthy leads a group of central committee who convened a meeting to ‘sack’ Thanenthiran for alleged abuse of power. Thanenthiran refused to accept the decision and in a tit-for-tat move, ‘sacked’ his detractors.

Both sides have lodged a slew of police reports against each other.