DEC 17 — The impending admission of the Indian Progressive Front (IPF) into the Barisan Nasional coalition is a significant political event for the Tamil working classes as it gives them, after nearly two decades of trying, a second voice outside of the MIC, in the ruling BN coalition.
Consequently they could have a voice in the government and Cabinet as well, breaking the monopoly held by MIC and its president since 1979, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who attended the IPF AGM on Sunday, said the possibility of IPF being accepted into BN was "very bright."
"I am looking forward to welcoming the IPF, which has always been our friend, soon," he said when opening the 16th annual general meeting of IPF.
Adnan said he did not see "many difficulties" in IPF being accepted as a member since it had always shared and believed in the Barisan spirit.
"As Barisan and Umno secretary-general, I fully support the IPF application," he added indicating the MIC has been told its strong opposition to admitting the IPF is no longer acceptable.
This is the clearest and most open acknowledgement by the BN that the IPF has great potential to win over the Tamil working class, unlike the MIC, whose leadership and programmes are more attuned to the middle and upper classes.
When admitted, IPF could get its "fair share" of the perks, including another Tamil minister.
IPF insiders said this would likely happen with a new Cabinet expected to take shape after Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak assumes the premiership soon after the Umno general assembly in late March.
The BN has long wanted to admit the IPF into its coalition knowing the widespread support it enjoys among the Tamil working class.
This was especially the case after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over in 2003 and actively campaigned for the admission of IPF.
He was especially close to IPF founder, the late Tan Sri M. G. Pandithan, and sympathized with his desire to join the BN, but was unable to overcome the strong opposition from MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
The BN swallowed, lock stock and barrel, Samy Vellu's mantra that, "the MIC is the sole and only Indian representative" and suffered as a consequence in the voter backlash in March.
As a consequence of that alienation not only did the Tamil working class flee to Hindraf but they also voted opposition in overwhelming numbers helping the Pakatan Rakyat win handsomely in the election.
With that Indians as a whole gained greater representation in state governments and their numbers were boosted in parliament. With IPF's admission the numbers are expected to rise again.
After the defeat, the BN now has compelling reasons to finally overrule any opposition from the MIC and admit the IPF without delay to regain ground lost by the MIC and its discredited leadership.
BN insiders said the coalition has promised "strong financial and organizational" support to the IPF to re-organize, strengthen itself and form new branches across the country to win back the Tamil masses.
In that job the IPF would eventually come head to head with supporters of Hindraf and the Makkal Sakthi movement, which although banned, enjoys strong emotional support from Tamils.
Unlike the MIC whose leadership is upper caste and discredited, the IPF originally was a working class movement for the "oppressed and suppressed" and with this history it is able to better communicate with the Tamil working class.
In fact IPF members were once the Tamil working class backbone of the MIC that was disconnected from the MIC body when Samy Vellu foolishly sacked Pandithan in 1989.
Pandithan formed IPF and took in into the Gagasan Rakyat coalition led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and together came within a whisker of toppling BN in the 1990 general election.
Although it is unrealistic for the BN to expect Tamil voter support in the numbers it had enjoyed before March 8, but by admitting the IPF and strengthening it financially, it stands to gain crucial mileage in the years ahead.
It all depends on how well the IPF settles its internal squabbles and how well its new leader Puan Sri Jayashree, wife of Pandithan, consolidates and leads the party.
Thus far she has shown a surprisingly keen political sense to disarm, destabilise and defeat her political enemies and has styled herself as an Indira Gandhi of Malaysia.
Her political enemies have been attacking her as an upper caste woman "inappropriately" leading a working class movement. They also attacked her for being a woman.
To boot, they say, she is not a Tamil but a Malayalee and not Malaysia-born.
Nevertheless BN membership would significantly raise her political profile and that of the IPF and there is nothing like success to silence the critics.
They are expected to fall in line now that the party is slated to take its seat on the big BN table.
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