MIC quietly reinventing, needs to play 'check and balance' role
MIC needs to play a check and balance role against Pakatan Harapan if it hopes to recapture support for BN from Indian voters in the next general election.
Political analyst Anbumani Balan welcomes MIC engaging and absorbing Indian leaders from other minority parties to strengthen the party, that in the past jealously guarded its role as the sole communal party representing the Indian community in BN...
MIC needs to play a check and balance role against Pakatan Harapan if it hopes to recapture support for BN from Indian voters in the next general election.
Political analyst Anbumani Balan welcomes MIC engaging and absorbing Indian leaders from other minority parties to strengthen the party, that in the past jealously guarded its role as the sole communal party representing the Indian community in BN.
"I have a positive view of the MIC leadership giving the opportunity for minority political parties representing Indians to join the MIC," Anbumani said.
President SA Vigneswaran confirmed on Monday that the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP) will be disbanded, with its founder S Nallakaruppan and its members joining MIC.
Vigneswaran also announced that Gerakan leader and former deputy foreign minister A Kohilan Pillay will join MIC.
"Both of them (Nallakaruppan and Kohilan Pillay) will be given important posts after they join the party," he said.
Vigneswaran added that MIC was also in talks with the Makkal Sakthi Party led by RS Thanendran, a former Hindraf activist.
Anbumani lauded the move to consolidate.
"The first step is that both parties have to give up their ego and recognise that the MIC leadership's move is a good sign," he told Malaysiakini.
'MIC could be a challenge to Harapan if...'
Anbumani said that MIC could be a challenge to Harapan if it could act as check and balance and scrutinise the performance of the coalition's Indian ministers in helping the community.
"The Indian community now realises that Harapan's leadership is not much different from BN," he claimed.
"If MIC is able to empower its party and become a check and balance, Indian voters will be back with BN."
According to the analyst, the Indian party needs to undergo some reforms and an injection of fresh ideas.
"Right now, the Indian community will continue to support political parties both from Harapan and BN that are able to defend their rights," he said.
It has been a time of reorganisation within the party, as a few days ago, Johor MIC liaison chairperson M Asojan (right in photo) was appointed as the new MIC secretary-general, replacing S Vell Paari.
Vigneswaran also elevated MIC central committee member AK Ramalingam to executive secretary.
Asojan, a former Gambir assemblyperson, also served on the Johor executive council from 2008 to 2013.
Ramalingam was appointed as MIC secretary-general under the leadership of former president G Palanivel, before being stripped of his membership in 2014 when Palanivel was challenged by his deputy, Dr S Subramaniam.
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