Waythamoorthy to lead new party for Indian advancement

There is a new political party in town - The Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP).

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of national unity and social well-being P Waythamoorthy announced its formation, saying that the party is for the advancement of the Indian community in the country.

Waythamoorthy, who is serving as the pro-tem committee chairperson, said the application for the MAP had been submitted to the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

"(The) Main objectives of the party, amongst others, will be to protect, promote and advance the interest of the Malaysian Indian community’s political, economic, educational, cultural, religious and social interests.

"It will work towards continued empowerment and enhancement of the Indian community in coherent with the Federal Constitution, in raising their socio-economic standing and promoting unity and cohesion in the nation," the statement read.

Waythamoorthy, who is also Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia chairperson, said that the birth of this party represented a "new hope" for the Malaysian Indian community for effective representation.

"Our party’s direction and vision is to adopt a fundamental rights-based approach for advancement, progressively moving away from state-assisted, welfare and handout based community towards community empowerment and resilient," he said.

MAP would work with all parties within the Pakatan Harapan government, Waythamoorthy added. - Mkini