Become one party, Tengku Adnan advises Indian-based parties in BN - Bernama

All Indian-based political parties in Barisan Nasional (BN) should merge into a single entity in the best interests of the community.

BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said it was no use competing with each other, when what they should be doing was working together to formulate the best policy to ensure a better future and to achieve the aspirations of the Indian community more effectively.

"I would like to call on those parties, namely Makkal Sakti, MIC, Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP), Indian Progressive Front (IPF) and the People's Progressive Party (PPP) to merge so that they will become a stronger entity.

"Why should they go on separate ways? Why create different parties to fight the same cause? Maybe they need to analyse or convene a meeting to find a solution to this problem," he said when opening the 5th Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party delegation meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.

Tengku Adnan, who is Federal Territories Minister, said the merging of the parties was vital to the BN, especially after only 48% support was garnered from the Indian community in the last general election.

"We want to increase the percentage of support for BN from the Indian community to between 60 to 70 per cent... so, if we continue going separate ways, the target will be out of reach," he said.

Tengku Adnan said MIC, as the most senior party, should be open to suggestions and analyse why so many Indian-based parties were being established.

"Something must have gone wrong and MIC needs to rectify it. Why are there so many rejections, is it because of the party leadership or policies? How do we get all these parties to work together to help the Indian community?" he said.

Meanwhile, Makkal Sakti president Datuk R.S. Thanenthiran lauded Tengku Adnan's call, but insisted that all party leaders should agree to compromise and be prepared to step down.

"I hope it will come true... the re-engineered merging parties can use a new name to fight for a better future for the Indians.

"However, it should not use MIC's name because even though it's a senior party, it has seen some rejections from the Indian community... the new party needs more dynamic leaders to restore the people's faith," he said. – Bernama