The MIC will spearhead the consolidation of the Indian community in a bid to strengthen the party’s power base and bargaining power with the government, party president S Samy Vellu said today.

He said the MIC, being the third largest political party in the Barisan Nasional (BN), has to lead the consolidation process to ensure that the party becomes “a much stronger voice” for the community.

“The time and political situation in the country demand that we unite or risk breaking up further into many groups which, in the end, will only make the community lose its strength,” he said in a statement.

Samy Vellu was commenting on the statement by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday that the leadership issue plaguing the Indian community, due to the emergence of small groups representing the community, must be resolved.

Najib had said that the Indians must consolidate themselves under a strong leadership to enable the government to address their needs.

Samy Vellu said it was easy to form political parties and become leaders, "but to strive for the well-being of the Indian community is not an easy task".

"The MIC has been doing this since the country achieved independence, but the formation of small groups or political parties has hindered this process to a certain extent,” he said.

He urged Indians to unite under one roof or risk being alienated further.

"The MIC will continue with its struggle for the Indians, but to do that we must be united and speak with one voice," he said.

Although the MIC chief stopped short of calling for a merger of the political parties representing the Indians in the country, he said however that the MIC was the only party that could represent the aspirations of the community.

"We have a broad-based representation and branches in every corner of the country. We are able to touch base with the people at any time," he added.

- Bernama