Neither dead nor alive, DCM slams MIC's 'living death'

The MIC as sole Indian component party in the BN seems to be on the downhill path. Yet its leadership is refusing to admit this scenario and what is more recently its president S Subramaniam went to the extent of telling his party members that the party is confidents of winning back seats it lost in the last general election.

He made this statement on the grounds that those who opposed to him are returning back to the MIC to accept his leadership and direction.

We are not sure whether all those in the opposing camps are going to accept the current leadership. Some turncoats might be interested in coming back to ensure that they can have some pieces of the shrinking cake.

Other than this, those loyal to the former president G Palanivel are not showing any signs of wanting to accept the leadership of Subramaniam, for differences between the two groups are too deep and antagonistic.

Subramaniam might be good medical doctor but a very bad politician. He simply lacks the political acumen not only in terms of bringing some form of unity to the party but lacks the necessary political skills to advance the economically and socially deprived members of the Indian community.

By saying that the former MIC strongholds would soon revert to the party, he is merely trying to convince his bosses in Umno that the party is not yet dead and still kicking.

Subramaniam fears that if does not make bold statements, the chances that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak might opt to include other Indian-based parties within the BN fold.

'Neither dead nor alive'

In a real sense, the MIC is in a dilemma. It is neither dead nor alive.

It exists merely due to the patronage accorded by Umno, but beyond this, the party is a non-starter for Indians in the country. It has failed the community miserably and tragically.

Umno leaders don’t listen to the party any more. Neither has the party leadership has approached Umno to solve myriad of problems faced by Indians.

The MIC could not even put a stop to the arrival of the former president of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, a person described in the international circles as an infamous "war criminal".

Tamils have lambasted the party for its inaction on this matter recently.

In the last two general elections in 2008 and 2013, the MIC candidates lost badly in the Bagan Dalam and Perai state seats.

In the 2013 general elections, the MIC candidate in Perai nearly lost his deposit.

Yet Subramaniam refuses to comment why the party lost badly in Penang. During the last two elections, the party was united somewhat. But it is difficult to decipher how bringing about unity in the party can enable it to win the two seats in the state of Penang.

There might not have been great leaders in the MIC in the past, but Indians generally think that none were as bad as the present one - Subramaniam. He was parachuted in the party to take care of the interests of S Samy Vellu and his family.

There is no desire to do something useful for the community that seems to be marooned in the unhealthy politics of race and religion.

As I have said many times in the past, the MIC leadership in the past and present has lost the golden opportunity to instill confidence and dignity amongst Indians in the country.

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P RAMASAMY is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang and the state assemblyperson for Perai.