MIC president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran urged the Indian community not to show their anger towards the Madani government in the midst of Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election.
He said if Indians declined to vote for the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government, it would not affect the continuance of the government.
Given this, Vigneswaran who was appointed as MIC’s 10th president since July 2018 contended that it is better to vote for the government in power rather than to vote for the opposition front.
At least by voting for the PH/DAP candidate, the Indians can ensure government funds for the community.
Henceforth, the question of MIC’s last-minute backing of the PH/DAP candidate is no surprise.
In the beginning, the party’s position was something like the MCA which refused to be drawn to support the DAP candidate. There is too much bad blood between MCA and DAP for the former to support the DAP candidate in the KKB polls.
MCA has decided to be involved. However, Vigneswaran after having a chat with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has come in to support the PH/DAP candidate.
If the MIC or its members do not show their anger towards the unity government, then how is the party expected to show its displeasure over unfulfilled promises and insults against the Indian community?
Anyway, have the MIC leaders ever shown their anger towards the past governments in the country? Have the MIC leadership ever taken up the sad plight of the Indian community in the past?
‘MIC’s sudden change of heart’
Why has the MIC despite been termed as the “mother party” of Indians lost its standing in the Indian community? Why has the party that was formed in 1946 at the height of Indian nationalism lost its direction by abandoning the community lock stock and barrel?
Why was there a sudden change of heart on the part of party after the chat with Anwar? Was there any material rewards offered by Anwar that the leaders could not refuse?
Or alternatively, did Anwar threaten them with an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over corrupt practices of certain MIC leaders?
The actual truth behind the last-minute change of heart will never be known but speculations are rife. For all intents and purposes, MIC is a political party that is neither dead or nor alive.
The party’s biggest crime is abandoning the Indian community. Limited power, positions and perks have clouded the minds and eyes of the party.
It is such a shame and colossal tragedy that MIC has virtually abandoned the Indian community at the times of the great need for political representation. Sorry to say, MIC is in no position to influence the Indians to vote for the PH/DAP candidate.
Vigneswaran can blow hot and cold but he knows very well that the community is not going to listen to him. If the MIC has no functional role, why does it exist in the first place?
The party surely has some valuable assets that need to protected. Whether these assets will be liquidated for the future well-being and welfare of the community remains to be seen.
Anyway, the main duty of the MIC leadership is not political representation but asset management.
This is something that political science researchers need to examine as to the metamorphosis of the MIC from an Indian nationalist party to an asset management party. – April 28, 2024
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Images credit: Malaysian Indian Congress Facebook
