Makkal Sakti - Alternative Or Just To Pressure MIC

By Geetha Ganesan

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- News on the launch of new political party Makkal Sakti this Saturday has raised questions among the Indian community which feels that there is a hidden agenda.

The public reaction is: Will Makkal Sakti become an alternative party or just to pressure change in MIC which had been representing the Indian community for 63 years.

Dr S Sivamurugan, political analyst at the Social Science Faculty, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) felt that Makkal Sakti should not be seen as an alternative party to MIC.

"There is no chance for another party to replace MIC. Makkal Sakti can be an alternate party to address public problems which had been overlooked by MIC," he said.

Makkal Sakti could function as a platform to get component Indian parties like the Indian Progressive Front (IPF) and People's Progressive Party (PPP) which refused to cooperate with MIC, but still support Barisan Nasional (BN) to contribute to the community.

"Indian political parties can cooperate to help the 30 percent Indians living under the poverty line. They can help the young generation get job opportunities, educational and welfare aid," he said.

A random survey by Bernama in Jalan Brickfields and Lebuh Ampang, two popular shopping areas for Indians brought similar reaction.

"The MIC had been championing the rights of Indians for a long time but is now disliked as several leaders refused to allow change in the party.

"The anger of the Indian community is at the leadership, not the party," former teacher S.Thiagarajah, 40, said.

M.Alice, 58, hoped that the presence of a new party would make the MIC leaders and members who had been complacent in discharging their responsibility to sit up.

"They have been awakened from their sleep and now realise the importance of support from the Indians. If not, they will forget their responsibility as it is the people who put them there," she said.

Nanthini, 33, an officer with the private sector said the new party would give MIC competiiton and this was good for the party.

"MIC is the main party representing the Indian community, it should be there forever, but for a change, we also need another party (as an alternative) so that MIC will always update itself and do its best for the community," she said.

"The MIC might have done something to Indians once upon a time, maybe... but (I feel) that there is no unity in the party. This is humiliating for the Indian community.

"So if a new party can bring back all the Indians together, why not?" asked S.Tamilmagan, 28, a private sector employee.

Private college student P.Ganesh, 23, said the emergence of Makkal Sakti would make MIC leaders realise that change was needed in the party.