Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP) president KS Nallakaruppan has attributed the MIC’s failure to resolve the woes of the Indian community to the massive rally of Indians on Nov 25.

“MIC didn’t do enough. If not, 50,000 would not have demonstrated on the same day I launched a new political party,” he told a press conference at his house in Kuala Lumpur today.

Nallakaruppan, also a former MIC Youth deputy chief, was referring to the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rally in Kuala Lumpur which occurred on the same day as the launching of his new party (MIUP).

He was initially asked why he had pledged support for Barisan Nasional during the MIUP launch despite being with the opposition PKR until earlier this year.

He said he had joined the PKR to assist the Indian community, but left after realising that only the BN government could help the community.

Nallakaruppan said the Indian community faced education, economic and health issues which the MIC had not been able to resolve.

“That’s why I came into the picture. MIC has not taken (enough) action on such issues. At least now, there is an alternative party which the Indian community can rely on,” he added.

He said that he would be seeking a meeting soon with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to raise such issues.

Following MIUP’s formation, Najib on Nov 26, remarked that the new party was formed to “complement the efforts of the MIC”, but remained non-committal on whether the party could be admitted into BN.

Special committee

MIC president S Samy Vellu however was less enthusiastic about MIUP’s formation and said that the party cannot be a part of BN.

Asked on this, Nallakaruppan said the matter was not for Samy to decide.

“Samy doesn’t have to tell me what to do in my party,” stressed Nallakaruppan, who is also a wealthy businessman.

On the special committee headed by Samy to probe the socio-economic problems faced by the Indian community, Nallakaruppan said the committee has to be open to all community leaders.

He explained that MIC had been charged with the welfare for the community for the past 50 years and for it to probe its own shortcomings was paradoxical.

“If it is headed by Samy, we go back to square one,” he said, adding that MIUP and other community leaders should be in the committee.

Previously, Samy said Abdullah had ordered the MIC to establish the committee which would file a report every six months.

Asked for his views on the 31 people charged with attempted murder during an assembly at Batu Caves the night before the Hindraf rally, Nallakaruppan said the government should consider allowing some of the accused to be free on bail.

“My view is that the 31 people include students and those with health problems. The government must take this into consideration,” he said, adding that he would be writing to the prime minister soon on the matter.