HAVING MANY INDIAN-BASED PARTIES COULD SPLIT THE COMMUNITY

The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) Party's president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu(photo above) today said having many Indian-based political parties could cause the community to be split.

• He said he took a serious view of the matter and urged the government to be careful when approving such new parties.
• “The MIC is having a programme to unite the Indian community, such developments are not healthy for the community so I urge the political parties to work with us,” Samy Vellu told reporters after officiating the 63rd Negeri Sembilan MIC delegates convention here today.
• He expressed confidence that the Indian community would support the MIC given that the party was established for 63 years.
• “Many Indians meet me about problems and this is proof that the MIC is still relevant and can look after the interests of the Indians,” he said.
• To date, there are six Indian-based parties, namely the MIC, the Indian Progressive Front, the Malaysian Indian United Party, the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party, the Malaysian Indian Democratic Action Front (Mindraf) and the Parti Hak Asasi Manudia.
• Samy admitted that “a small number of Indians” alleged that the MIC did not look after the interests of Indians with problems and, as a result, about 40 per cent of the Indian support had swung towards the opposition since 2008.
• “Today we see the Indian support for the MIC and the Barisan Nasional returning,” he said.
• He said the MIC today wanted to change and take steps to set up the party’s community service centres in every state to help the Indian community.
• Earlier, there was only a centre in Kuala Lumpur, excluding the centres set up by state assemblymen and members of parliament.

Source: BERNAMA, The Star Online