'Exit BN, enter MACC' - Ramasamy on MCA, MIC's dilemma

Exploring the prospect of MCA and MIC breaking ranks with Umno and BN, P Ramasamy pointed to a speculation that sends shivers down political spines.

The Urimai chairperson noted that quitting the coalition could invite the attention of the MACC, with long-buried skeletons at risk of tumbling out of the closet.

“MCA and MIC leaders are aware that joining Perikatan Nasional will not be easy. They may lose what little benefits they still enjoy in BN.

“There is also speculation that once the two parties leave BN, MACC may come knocking on their leaders’ doors.

“The Madani government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim knows how to deal with the opposition. Selective prosecution has become a hallmark of the administration,” he added in a statement today.

For over two decades, Anwar and his Pakatan Harapan coalition lambasted BN leaders for rampant corruption and abuse of power.

However, following the political deadlock of the 2022 general election, Harapan chose to strike an alliance with the very coalition it once condemned.

What took so long?

Ramasamy also questioned MIC and MCA’s long delay in even considering a move to the opposition bloc.

“For MCA and MIC, after blindly remaining loyal to Umno and the BN coalition for so long, such submissiveness is no longer acceptable.

“The loss of Chinese and Indian community support for these two parties is not solely due to their own weaknesses, but largely because of the way Umno has treated them.

“It is Umno’s ‘subjugation’ of these two parties that has led them to their unfortunate state. If the leadership of MCA and MIC had not been content with the mere scraps of power thrown their way, the country’s political history might have been very different today,” he stressed.

Ramasamy, who had been a staunch critic of MIC when he was part of DAP, noted that ties between MCA, MIC and Umno are now at their lowest ebb.

“Whether PN is truly serious about accepting these two non-Malay parties is still uncertain.

“The opposition may be deliberately unsettling Umno’s leadership with its open invitation to MCA and MIC, but they also know that both parties no longer have the capacity to draw significant support from the non-Malay communities,” he added.

Relations between MIC and Umno grew more strained after MIC Youth deputy chief K Kesavan attended Bersatu’s annual assembly over the weekend.

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