Murugiah between 'devil and deep blue sea'

T Murugiah, the former Youth chief of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), is said to be looking 'east' for his political survival after being sacked from the party for alleged misconduct.

But will it be Sarawak rather than Sabah that offers him a new lease on his political career and a second chance to climb the Barisan Nasional (BN) ladder?

Murugiah (left) recently said he had received overtures to join two Sabah-based parties. However, there is persistent talk is that he may join Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) as head of a Peninsular Malaysia branch.

Asked if he would join SUPP, he would only say that the 21 conditions - under which Sarawak merged with the peninsula and Sabah in 1963 - would preclude his doing so.

"I cannot just go and join any BN component party without the blessings of the BN leadership and I have to also consult the (former PPP) members' views before committing myself to any party," he argued when pressed.

A BN source claimed otherwise, saying that the 21 conditions do not prevent SUPP from establishing branches in the peninsula.

"About two weeks ago, I went to meet Murugiah - it was a Tuesday which is set aside for him to meet the public - but was told that he had gone to Sarawak on urgent business. So, this strengthens my suspicion that he had gone to negotiate with SUPP," said the source.

"He is keeping a very low profile on this matter as many loose ends have to be tied up before he can make the official announcement. Also he does not want to jeopardise his political career with BN as he is caught between the devil and the deep (blue) sea."

Murugiah had previously said that he has given himself two months to decide on his future in BN.

The source explained that Murugiah has been told to wait for two months so that SUPP can amend its constitution in order to spread its wings to the peninsula.

"I do not think that Murugiah will go for a Sabah-based party as there are no Indian (Malaysian) members and there are no multi-racial parties (in the state). But Sarawak has SUPP (which has a multi-racial composition)."

Appeal pending

Murugiah has claimed to have the support of BN leaders Najib Abdul Razak, Muhyiddin Yassin and Hishammuddin Hussein for his political ventures.

Najib is said to be happy with Murugiah's work in addressing the problems of the public, viewing him as a potential leader in attracting the Indian Malaysian vote in the next general election.

Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon (right) had invited Murugiah into his party, purportedly on Najib's suggestion, but the party central committee rejected the idea.

Murugiah then claimed that he had received offers from PKR and two Sabah-based parties to join them, but rejected the notion of joining the opposition.

He similarly declined to join the Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party, saying his political vision lies with a multi-racial party within BN rather than a community-based group.

Murugiah is currently awaiting the outcome of his appeal against the decision of the Registrar of Societies to disqualify him as a PPP leader.