Merger OK but MIC must keep its name - Subra

PUTRAJAYA : MIC will never change its name or identity, even if the idea to merge all Indian groups as one political party were to take off.

Party deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said MIC is ready to have discussions with other groups interested in consolidating to serve the Indian community, but will not accept conditions that affect the party's name.

"To call it a different name, it is not possible," he told reporters after launching the Malaysia Health System in Transition Country Report today.

Subramaniam said MIC had put forward the idea for all parties to merge with MIC before, but it did not materialise because some of them did not want to lose their identities.

"If there is openness in everyone, we are prepared to merge. But you cannot come with your own set of terms and conditions," he said, adding that some people had wanted their participation to be accompanied with a guarantee of certain positions.

On whether MIC's structure could be changed, he said it is open for discussion and would change if needed be.

After the 13th general election, MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel had called for all parties claiming to represent Indian Malaysians to discuss the feasibility of a merger.

The parties included the People's Progressive Party, the Indian Pro­gressive Front Malaysia (IPF) and Makkal Sakthi.

It was reported that Palanivel was to look into merging MIC with IPF first, since talk of such a merger had been brought up twice during the tenure of former president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

Palanivel is expected to offer an MIC-quota senate seat to his IPF counterpart, Datuk M. Sambanthan, as incentive.

IPF has long called on the Barisan Nasional to accept the party into its fold, given its long-standing support to the coalition.

- thesundaily.my