THE Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) has come a long way from the time of its formation in 2009 when it was officially launched by then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Some of its leaders, including present president Datuk Seri R.S. Thanenthiran, were part of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) movement that was formed in the early or mid-2000s by a few non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to champion the cause of Hindus or Indians in the country.
HINDRAF received worldwide attention when the destruction of a Hindu temple in Klang catapulted it to organise a mammoth rally against the Government on Nov 24, 2007, in Kuala Lumpur.
Subsequently, the principal leaders of the HINDRAF movement were arrested under the now-defunct Internal Security Act (ISA).
However, due to ideological and personal reasons, the group that formed the MMSP under Thanenthiran parted company with the original leaders of the HINDRAF movement.
It is not that the MMSP became more radical or vocal in the demands for the betterment of the Indian community. Instead, it metamorphosed itself into a subservient and servile mouthpiece of UMNO.
The ultimate ambition of the party was to supplant the MIC as an Indian component party in Barisan Nasional (BN). However, due to vehement opposition from the MIC, the MSSP did not succeed in this endeavour.
However, given the recent uneasy relationship between some UMNO leaders and the MIC leadership, there is a possibility that the MSSP might be allowed in BN’s fold or, alternatively, be allocated one or two constituencies to contest.
Najib, a God-given leader?
The MSSP considers that Najib was a “God-given” leader for the Indian community.
During the recent trials of Najib (before he was finally convicted), MSSP leaders, including Thanenthiran, were conspicuously present around Najib.
In the party’s 14th general assembly held recently, Najib’s children and UMNO leaders were invited to give speeches. Najib’s children talked about the sacrifices made by their father and how he loved the Indian community (to the extent that he helped them much).
Thenanthiran also shed tears when he said that Najib was a great friend of the Indians.
He said that Najib was responsible for the launch of the Malaysian Indian Blueprint (MIB), which charts the development course for the community in the years to come.
He added that Najib gave great assistance to Tamil schools in the country and that they owe it to Najib for their physical improvements.
Despite lavishing Najib with praises, Thenanthiran was politically calculative, to the point of asking for the inclusion of the MSSP within the fold of BN with the provision of contesting in a few constituencies.
Chances are that MSSP might succeed given its extreme docility and subservience.
Why the Indians are underdeveloped
One of the primary reasons why the Indian community is in an underdeveloped state is the lack of strong and dynamic leadership.
The community certainly doesn’t want leaders who don’t have pride and dignity.
The community needs leaders who will be able to raise matters without fear and favour for the larger and strategic interests of the community.
Indians might be numerically small or lack economic and financial power, but they are a dignified community with the backing of a civilisation that harks back to the days of the ancient Dravidian kingdoms in the Indian subcontinent.
It is not that the MIC has strong and dynamic leaders who can speak independently of the interests of the community; their obsequiousness is a matter of degree.
They might occasionally raise their voices but they are not as bad as those in the MMSP, a party that seeks to represent Indians by total capitulation in the interests of UMNO.
UMNO is a party that is primarily responsible for the present state of affairs of the Indian community.
The party, by its continuous emphasis on race and religion, has marginalised the interests of not just Indians but other numerically smaller communities.
MMSP, by its close identification with UMNO, has basically conceded the fact that Indians by themselves are not able to provide leaders for the betterment of the community.
It has arrived at the conclusion that Indians can only expect breadcrumbs thrown at them by UMNO.
What did Najib really do for Indians?
How can Indians in the country, after having sacrificed so much, be in the good books of corrupt UMNO leaders for their betterment?
What did Najib really do for the community? Yes, before the general election, he would have made some concessions to get the support of Indian voters, but that was all.
Najib might have made some improved allocations to Tamil schools. Two or three new Tamil schools might have also been built under his administration. Beyond these, however, Tamil schools are in a deplorable state.
There is also a possibility that some might be closed down due to low enrollment.
It is alright that MMSP cannot represent the Indians in the country. In fact, the party is hardly representative of the community, what to say about them speaking on their behalf.
In fact, it is just a minuscule party without a support base.
Bringing delegates and supporters to party conventions is no indication of the party’s effective representation.
It is alright for the MMSP to seek financial assistance from UMNO for its leaders, but they certainly do not represent the Indian community, a community that is solidly behind the Pakatan Harapan-led opposition. – Sept 12, 2022
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is the state assemblyperson for Perai. He is also deputy chief minister II of Penang.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
