THE acceptance of Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) into Perikatan Nasional (PN) will bolster the image of the opposition coalition by having a broad political scope.

Until the formation of MIPP, Indians were associate members of Bersatu without any voting rights.

The admission of MIPP as a component party within the fold of PN is big improvement over the subordinate status of Indians as associate members.

Hopefully, MIPP will campaign on behalf of the PN candidate in the upcoming Kuala Kunu Baru (KKB) by-election slated for May 11,

Unfortunately, the newly formed party couldn’t even suggest the nomination of an Indian candidate for the KKB state constituency. Whether such a suggestion was accepted or not is a different matter. MIPP being meek doesn’t help its image in the Indian community.

MIPP is a new party formed by the former MIC members. Its president S.P. Punithan was the MIC head of Selangor. Hopefully, the party, its leaders and members will shed their MIC subservient culture to be treated as equals within the ranks of the opposition.

The party’s leaders should move away from the appeasement politics that their former party MIC had with UMNO.

Don’t emulate DAP, PKR

PAS and Bersatu are dominant component parties of PN. They have the strength of the Malay support. MIPP has yet to be recognised by the Indian community.

It has yet to be tested whether MIPP has a political clout among the Indian community. Without a political base, the party and its leaders will be too dependent on PN leaders.

While MIPP might be a component party of PN, its future will be dependent on taking up the rightful cause of the Indian poor and marginalised.

Too much reliance on PN leaders might be detrimental to the interests and welfare of the Indian community.  MCA, MIC, Gerakan and lately DAP and PKR are examples of political parties that MIPP should avoid.

PAS and Bersatu leaders might be dominant in the opposition coalition but they must respect Indians in the country. If not, they would be repeating the mistakes of what UMNO has done in the past.

Whether I agree with PN opposition coalition is not important at this stage. From a broader democratic perspective, there is a need to strengthen the forces of opposition to enable the functioning of democracy.

While PN might have accepted MIPP within its fold, the question is whether Indians are prepared to accept the newly formed party. For this to happen, MIPP must bravely and honestly take up the cause of Indians in the country, especially that of the poor and marginalised.

MIPP’s acceptance in PN will only make sense if there is the backing of the Indian community. - April 25, 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. 

https://focusmalaysia.my/mipps-admission-into-pn-is-only-meaningful-if-it-can-nominate-an-indian-candidate-for-kkb-by-election/