THERE seems to be a merry-go-round amusement in the country as to whether MIC has officially joined opposition front Perikatan Nasional (PN).
While PN leaders are maintaining the stand that the MIC has applied and is now considered a full-fledged member of the opposition coalition, MIC leaders are – for political reasons – maintaining that they have not decided though they might have formally applied to join PN.
Under these political circumstances, it is difficult to say who is speaking the truth: the PN or the MIC leaders.
It is common knowledge that the MIC’s politics of association with the opposition coalition is to enable the party to strike a better deal with the ruling Pakatan Harapan-Barsan Nasional (PH-BN) coalition.
Editor’s Note: The frenzy follows a statement from PN’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan that MIC has officially been approved as the opposition coalition’s fifth member.
While the approval was granted in December, the PN Supreme Council confirmed MIC’s admission last Saturday (March 14), reported Berita Harian.
However, MIC’s deputy president Datuk Seri M Saravanan stated that the party has not made any official application to join the PN. He also explained that MIC has yet to decide whether to leave the BN or remain with the coalition.
‘Neither alive nor dead’
MIC has been let down in the past by none other than Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Promised appointments have not come to MIC, thus making it a frustrated political party in the country or as someone described in the past, “it is neither alive nor dead”.
This leaves MIC which is considered as the sole representative of the Indians in a sad state. By and large, Indians have deserted the party over the years due to its lack of fighting spirit for the rights of the community.
PN leaders know very well the relationship between the MIC and the grassroots Indian community. They are also aware that bringing the MIC within its fold might not attract Indian votes.
Moreover, if MIC joins PN, the coalition’s association with PAS which is the dominant party in the opposition coalition would drive away Indians.
Both the PN and MIC leaders know this fundamental fact. But then, why is the PN keen on bringing the MIC within its fold?
‘Symbolic blow to BN’
Even if MIC cannot bring in Indian support to the PN as a whole, its inclusion would be a symbolic victory for the opposition coalition’s leadership.
Similarly, it would be a symbolic blow to Barisan Nasional (BN), especially to the proverbial UMNO-MCA-MIC ties.
PN is keen to do the damage – to break the historical and political link between the principal parties in BN.
Anyway, given the political opportunism of the MIC leaders, it is still unclear whether the party will break ranks to join PN.
In the meantime, if political rewards are forthcoming from the Madani government or Anwar, the MIC still holds the trump card in distancing itself from PN.
PAS is the biggest worry for the MIC. As implied by some political observers, “at least the MIC is alive in BN for that might be a different matter altogether in PN”. – March 18, 2026
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy 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.
