The Indian community cannot isolate itself from the Barisan Nasional (BN) if it wants to be in the mainstream of national development with the other communities, MIC vice-president M Saravanan said in Kulim.

Supporting other political parties would cause the majority of the Indians to be alienated from a progressive society, he added.   

“The Indians must realise that they are only relevant with the BN, which does not make empty promises unlike the opposition,” he said at a Kedah MIC Deepavali gathering at Dataran Taman Halia, Paya Besar, Lunas, near Kulim, last night.

Saravanan, who is Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister, said the Indian Malaysian community was already feeling alienated in the states administered by the opposition.  

He said the BN government provided numerous opportunities in the economic, educational and social sectors, and they had to only work hard to harness them.  

Saravanan said Indians who had little education had to compete with foreigners, especially from Indonesia and Bangladesh, in the construction and plantation sectors, respectively.  

He said they should not be too selective in seeking jobs but should grab every opportunity available to prove that they could also contribute to the economy and national development.  

Saravanan praised the Kedah MIC for working hard to draw the support of the Indians for the BN, especially in the light of the coming general election.  

He expressed confidence that the BN would win more than 130 parliamentary seats in the election to continue ruling the country.

- Bernama