The Perak senate post spat – S. Vell Paari

The spat on the Perak senate post does not bode well for both Barisan Nasional and MIC, especially for MIC, which does not have any elected representatives in the state.

Given this position and lack of bargaining power, MIC must tread carefully on this issue and not anger the Perak government, as such a move could be detrimental to the party.

Compared with the other states, the Perak menteri besar has been much more generous to MIC even though we do not have elected representatives.

He has given MIC the positions of speaker, special adviser and special officer.

But going by the latest turn of events, one does not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out who is responsible for the delay.

It is quite obvious who is not telling the truth and putting the blame on others.

The reason for my observation is this, I find it peculiar on the need to drag the Perak MB into this issue, especially asking him to announce the candidate.

He has no vested interests in this issue. Why should he? What has he got to gain or lose over the appointment of a MIC senator?

As he has stated, the senate position is available and it is up to Datuk Seri G. Palanivel as party president to discuss with the prime minister and recommend the candidate.

If there is an issue, then it is something that Palanivel has to take up with PM and not the Perak MB.

The power to recommend the candidate is the prerogative of Palanivel as the party president.

So to involve the MB in this issues is incomprehensible.

Unless like how the PM's name was used to escape criticism over the extension of the two senators. So should a candidate be chosen and masking it to look as if the candidate was the MB's decision, hence can escape criticism from others in Perak who were promised the senate seat?

This is MIC’s problem and we must resolve it instead of passing the buck to others.

The last two general elections saw MIC suffering heavy losses, and since then, we have been struggling to rebuild our strength.

But these efforts will be in vain if the party leadership continues to indulge in actions that cast us in a negative light. I fear that if this trend continues, MIC will soon end up in political oblivion.

We are in desperate need of rejuvenation and clear direction, which can only be provided by a dynamic leadership.

* Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari is the MIC strategic director. TMI