Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy has poured cold water on the idea of an MIC revival following its victory of one seat in last month's Malacca state elections.
Rather, he said the retention of the party leadership without its top posts being contested was proof of the party's increasing irrelevance to the Indian community and the Malaysian political scene in general.
"Firstly, the mantra of 'sink or swim' with Umno is no longer applicable to MIC. Indeed (MIC president) SA Vigneswaran (above) might have gone along with the former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the current leader of Bersatu.
"However, things are different now, after Muhyiddin resigned as the prime minister and with the ascendancy of Umno and BN, there is a reality assessment on the part of the MIC.
"It is back to the old and worn-out game of sinking and swimming with Umno," said Ramasamy in a statement today.
MIC vice-president T Mohan recently said that as there are about 40 seats in the country whose electorate comprises more than 15 percent Indian voters, MIC’s survival is vital for BN to remain in power.
However, the DAP man said he does not think MIC is going to sink or swim with Umno.
"It is much more realistic to say that while Umno might swim in the troubled waters of politics, MIC is already sinking.
"I doubt this mantra has any relevance anymore after MIC shifted to embrace Muhyiddin causing discomfort to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi," said Ramasamy.
He cited Zahid's remark that MIC might not be the sole representative of the Indian community in BN anymore and considered admitting the Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP).
"Given the political tide, there is no question of MIC backing Bersatu or PN (Perikatan Nasional) now. This marriage of convenience is over and MIC has no choice but to tag along with Umno in BN even with the admission of MMSP.
"Winning one state seat in the recent Malacca election is no indication of the party’s popularity or that it has the power to swim," he added.
Neither popular nor effective leader
Taking aim at Vigneswaran, Ramasamy said the former Dewan Negara president was neither a popular nor an effective leader.
He added that the unopposed retention of Vigneswaran and his deputy M Saravanan was just another indication that the party has lost its lure in the Indian community.
"Whatever effectiveness the party had, had gone with the retirement of its former president and strongman S Samy Vellu.
"It became a one-man show as other promising leaders were pushed out in the dog-eat-dog world."
Ramasamy claimed that Indians have left the party to seek sanctuary in more multi-racial parties especially in the Pakatan Harapan coalition.
Saravanan has been the sole Indian representative in the Malay-Muslim-dominated cabinets of Muhyiddin and current Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The Harapan-era saw Gobind Singh Deo, M Kulasegaran, P Waythamoorthy, and Dr Xavier Jayakumar as full ministers.
"The party (MIC) could have done much for the (Indian) community during the years it had a significant presence (in government) but it failed because of its servile and subservient politics," said Ramasamy. - Mkini
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