MIC quietly reinventing, needs to play 'check and balance' role

MIC needs to play the 'check and balance' role against Pakatan Harapan parties if it hopes to recapture the support for the Barisan Nasional from Indian voters when GE 15 comes around.

Political analyst Anbumani Balan also welcomed the MIC leadership's actions in engaging and absorbing Indian leaders from other minority parties to strengthen the MIC, which always jealously guarded its role as the sole communal party representing the Indian community in the BN coalition.

"I have a positive view of the MIC leadership giving the opportunity for minority political parties representing Indians to join the MIC.

This comes after MIC president SA Vigneswaran confirmed on Monday that the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP). which was set up by S Nallakaruppan, will be disbanded with Nallakaruppan and its members joining MIC.

Vigneswaran also announced that the former deputy foreign affairs minister, A Kohilan Pillay, who is from Gerakan, will join the MIC.

"Both of them (Nallakaruppan, photo, below, and Kohilan Pillay) will be given important posts after they join the party," he said.

He added that MIC was also in talks with the Makkal Sakthi Party led by RS Thanendran, a former Hindraf activist.

Anbumani lauded the move to consolidate.

"The first step is that both parties have to give up their ego and recognise that the MIC leadership's move is a good sign," he told Malaysiakini.

'MIC could be a challenge to Harapan if...'

Anbumani said that MIC could be a challenge to Harapan if it could act as 'check and balance' and scrutinise the performance of the coalition's Indian ministers in helping the community.

"The Indian community now realises that Harapan's leadership is not much different from BN," he claimed.

"If MIC is able to empower its party and become a check and balance, Indian voters will be back with BN," he added.

According to him, the Indian party needs to undergo some reforms and an injection of fresh ideas.

"Right now, the Indian community will continue to support political parties both from Harapan and BN that are able to defend their rights," Anbumani said.

It has been a time of re-organisation within the party, as a few days ago, Johor MIC liaison chairperson M Asojan was appointed as the new MIC secretary-general, replacing S Vell Paari.

Vigneswaran also appointed MIC central committee member AK Ramalingam as the party executive secretary.

Asojan, a former Gambir assemblyperson, was appointed as an executive council member of the Johor state government from 2008 to 2013.

Ramalingam, a businessperson, was appointed as secretary-general under the leadership of former president G Palanivel, before being stripped of his membership in 2014 when Palanivel was challenged by his deputy, Dr S Subramaniam. - Mkini