Yet another political party for Indians

Former PKR secretary-general PS Jenapala is aiming for the first Indian-centric opposition party in the country.

KUALA LUMPUR: Combative former PKR leader PS Jenapala is starting a new party which will “truly defend the rights” of the Indians in the country.

To be called the Indian Justice Party (IJP), the organistion, according to Jenapala, will be the first opposition party that will represent the Indian community.

“At the moment, there is no single opposition party that fully represents the Indian community’s viewpoint or the issues affecting them.

“IJP is here to serve the Indian community,” he said.

Jenapala, the former PKR deputy secretary-general, who resigned from his post in 2008, confessed that IJP was yet to be registered.

“We have not yet got the approval of the Registrar of Society (ROS) but we hope to resolve this once the documentation is completed,” he said, adding that IJP will be officially launched tomorrow at Plaza Makmur, Taman Batu Caves, at 3pm.

Why another new party?

Speaking to FMT, Jenapala said there was a need for an Indian exclusive opposition party in the country because of the plight of the community.

“We will be the first fully Indian-based opposition party and will push the Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat coalition to ensure that they focus on Indian issues.

“Indians here must understand that BN or Pakatan makes no difference to us. Indians are being used to achieve the individual coalition’s goals,” he said.

Explaining further, he said the Malay community has three parties – Umno, PAS and PKR – to defend them and the Chinese has MCA, DAP and Gerakan.

“How about the Indians? They have no one. Do you hear the Indians? Who stands up for them? Forget MIC, they are just an Umno tool to control the poor oppressed Indians,” he said.

When asked about Pakatan’s multiracial philosophy, he dismissed it: “Forget it… Pakatan is a double-standard coalition.

“The same Pakatan leaders who are trying to create a multiracial party system in the peninsula is also encouraging race-based parties in Sarawak and Sabah,” he said..

Racist minds

Jenapala denied allegations that his intentions to form the new party was to break PKR and support Barisan Nasional (BN).

“No, I reiterate that we will never hold hands with BN in any situation.

“Since 2005 I have been thinking of forming a fully Indian-based opposition party. So, the question of IJP being pro-BN does not arise at all,” he said.

Jenapala said the party now has 5,000 members and the “numbers are increasing”.

He said the time had not yet come for Malaysia to have a multiracial party system.

“I can daringly say that not many Malaysians are open-minded. There are many racist minds among Malaysians.

“For example, how many Indians did you see protesting the death of Teoh Beng Hock? How many Malays did you see protesting A Kugan’s death? How many Chinese did you see protesting Aminulrasyid Amzah‘sdeath?” he asked.

IJP is the eighth Indian-dominated party in Malaysia after MIC, PPP, IPF, Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party, Malaysian Indian United Party, HRP (Human Right Party) and the Malaysian Indian Justice Party. - FMT