UMNO is planning to punish all those who chose to support Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, including MIC.
“UMNO is dissatisfied with MIC for its close rapport with Muhyiddin. The party even questioned UMNO for not holding its annual general assembly (AGM) when it got into trouble with the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
“The nationalist party also did not take MIC questioning UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s decisions lightly.
“Hence, UMNO is now casting doubt on MIC’s role as the only party in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition to represent Indians and whether it should consider including other Indian-based parties that has been loyal to them,” said Penang deputy chief minister Prof P Ramasamy.
Two days ago, Zahid said that he would consider offering Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) seats to contest in the next general election, in recognition of their loyalty and hard work.
“I feel MMSP is gaining traction among the people and I will do my best to get you seats to contest in the next polls,” the Bagan Datuk MP stated.
Earlier today, Free Malaysia Today reported UMNO supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi as telling MIC to accept the fact that it was longer the sole representative of the Indian community.
“If MIC is committed to democracy, it should celebrate diversity. It should not stifle support from the Indian community for BN via Makkal Sakti, or even MIUP and IPF,” he said, referring to the BN-friendly Malaysian Indian United Party and the All Malaysian Indian Progressive Front.
It is to note that under the BN charter, all coalition party members must give unanimous support for a new party to join the pact. The expulsion of a party requires only majority support.
MCA is in the list too
Under the helm of then MIC president Tun S Samy Vellu, the latter had used the charter to block IPF’s entry into BN several times despite insistence of some leaders to admit the party into the fold.
To recognise IPF’s contribution to BN, its then founder-president, the late Tan Sri MG Pandithan, was appointed as Dewan Negara Senator in Sept 1995 by then premier, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Touching on Puad’s assertions, Ramasamy said that it known to all and sundry that UMNO seeks to be the sole representative of the Malay community.
With that, it would not tolerate any dissent from its coalition members such as MCA and MIC.
“Puad’s argument is simple. Since MIC adheres to democracy, there is nothing wrong for the party to allow other Indian-based parties to come into the BN fold.
“Bear in mind that it is not only Zahid and Puad who are considering some kind of punitive action against MIC, or even MCA, for their close association with Bersatu. Many other UMNO leaders also feel the same,” he remarked. – Sept 21, 2021.
