exclusive The plight of the Indian community in Malaysia is worrying, but businessman-turned-politician KS Nallakaruppan thinks that his new party will be able to turn it around.

"(Indians) seem to be stuck in quicksand, being quickly dragged into the mire, with no one able to help them," the president of Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP) told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview recently.

He said that a "fresh approach and new ideas" were needed to help the community to be able to stand on its own again.

"This, I assure you, my party will provide," he said, adding that he did not form the party for personal or financial gain.

"My aim is to help the community. I think I will be able to do that with MIUP. My supporters too are single minded about doing something for the community," he said.

Malaysiakini met with Nallakaruppan briefly at his Bukit Tunku residence in Kuala Lumpur recently. He had just returned from a short trip to Penang to meet and gather new members for his party and was preparing to head to Johor.

"I have been travelling all over the country for the past two months. The support I have gained is tremendous, mostly from youths," he said.

"I have been telling them that we need to be different in our approach in helping the community. I told them that I don't want members who are here just to make some fast money and gain popularity.

"My members must be willing to work hard for the community. Wherever there is a problem, they should be the first to be there to solve it."

Filling the vacuum

His aim is not to engage in fire-fighting where minor issues are concerned, but rather to ensure that the foundation of the community is shored up.

"There are basic things that seem to have deteriorated, resulting in (Indians) being sidelined. We want to correct that. We have some ideas and once these are implemented, I am sure we will see a brighter future for society as a whole," he said.

Nallakaruppan also said he is not competing with MIC or any other Indian-based party to win over the community.

"You know, there is a vacuum in the Indian community political sphere now. People are not happy with the other Indian-based parties in BN. They are not happy with the opposition parties...

"We feel we can capitalise on this void and work for the benefit of the society. We are tapping not just the younger crowd but also people who have been in other parties.

"They know we are truthful to them when we draw out our plans for the community. They know this Dato' Nalla can and will deliver whatever he promises."

Nallakaruppan said he is expecting at least about 2,000 supporters at the launch of his party on Sunday afternoon at Hotel Istana in Kuala Lumpur.

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