Former MIC vice-president K Kumaran has defended his party against accusations of being a "burden" to BN. He said Umno's "divide-and-rule" tactic, while effective for the Malay party, had caused non-Malay parties such as MIC and MCA to fail.
"Why did Umno emerge as the party that gets the Malay votes?
"Clearly, it is because Umno never allowed any other Malay-based parties to be set up for fear of competition," Kumaran said.
He said this was unlike approvals granted for smaller Indian- and Chinese-based parties, which at one point were seen as rivals to MIC and MCA.
"What is Umno's intention? Could it be that Umno is upholding the divide-and-rule concept?
"If the MIC or MCA questions Umno on this matter, they will usually come up with all kinds of excuses," he added.
Earlier today, Umno Veterans Club secretary-general Mustapha Yaakub cited a Malay proverb that described MIC as a "dead monitor lizard" carried by BN, in reference to the Indian-based party being a burden to the coalition.
Mustapha also said he hoped to see MIC make good of its perceived plans to exit BN, as indicated at its 74th annual general assembly last weekend.
Kumaran, however, accused Umno of having a "monitor lizard's tongue", implying they were being dishonest with other BN component parties.
"Respected Umno veteran, don't be caught up popularising Umno's glory days when Umno dominated the Malay support through a monopoly (of BN) and speaking with a forked tongue to MIC and MCA.
"Umno is now slowly hurt by its own 'poisonous play' when Malay support has drifted towards PAS, PKR, Bersatu, DAP, Gerakan, as well as other parties in Sabah and Sarawak," he said.
Kumaran also said Umno should look at resolving the problems within its own ranks before labelling a loyal partner as a burden.
The strained ties between Umno and MIC came about after the former decided to sever ties with Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN) while leaving other BN component parties in limbo, pending a BN supreme council meeting scheduled for tonight. - Mkini
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