Come and join us, MIC tells IPF

MIC has told the Indian Progressive Front (IPF) and other Indian based parties affiliated to BN, to come in under MIC if they want to consolidate as one party under the BN banner.

MIC youth chief C Sivaraajh said this today after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at the IPF general assembly yesterday, urged all Indian parties in the ruling coalition to consolidate, as there are too many parties attempting to represent Malaysia's 7.5 percent Indian population.

"But the biggest and oldest party is the MIC and all other parties should merge into the MIC to strengthen it and consolidate the Indian community," Sivaraajh said in a statement today, while agreeing with Najib's call.

He pointed out that other four parties attempting to represent the Indian community within the BN fold all started as "MIC splinters".

"The MIC is mother of all Indian parties," he said.

However, Sivaraajh (right) also demanded that IPF first consolidate their leadership crisis before talking about merging with MIC.

IPF is separated into three factions currently, with no wholly recognised leader.

"How can a one-third president unite 80 percent of the Indian community? Ridiculous," he said, aiming his criticism at IPF faction president P Sambanthan.

"Please wake up to your puny status as a one-third president," he said.

CWC to discuss re-elections

Meanwhile, MIC also announced today that it will hold an emergency Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting over the Registrar of Societies (ROS) order for it to conduct re-elections.

Party secretary-general A Prakash Rao, according to a Bernama report, said the meeting would start at 2pm this Thursday  with top MIC officials, the election committee and lawyers.

MIC has said that it intends to appeal the ROS directive within 10 days as there "uncertainties in the directive".

The ROS order to re-elect all of MIC's posts except for the post of president and deputy president has further put party president G Palanivel's position in question. He has already been criticised for his poor leadership of the party.

 

IPF proposes task force for Indian funds

The pro-BN party says MIC must not pretend that it is the only representative of Indians.

PETALING JAYA: The Indian Progressive Front (IPF), a Barisan Nasional friendly Indian political party, has asked MIC to set up a special task force to manage government allocations meant for Malaysian Indians.

IPF president M Sambanthan, noting that there are several pro-BN Indian-based parties in the country, said it was unfair for MIC to act as if it was the sole representative of the community in the government.

“As a party which has positions in government, they should also encourage and listen to the other pro-BN parties, especially Indian-based parties” he told FMT today.

He claimed that MIC’s reluctance to entertain other Indian-based parties had resulted in the community being deprived of “fully enjoying” government allocations.

He said only a certain segment of the community had benefited from government funds, with the remainder being left in the lurch because they did not favour MIC.

“Those who do not like MIC or those who do not join the party are left out,” he said. “This is one of the reasons why Indians voted for Pakatan Rakyat at the last election. The BN seems to be repeating the same mistake.”

On the proposed special task force, Sambanthan said it should consist of representatives from all pro-BN Indian political parties and major Indian-based non-governmental organisations.

“The government can no longer use MIC to reach the Malaysian Indian community. We have parties like IPF, PPP and MIUP, who are getting stronger in several areas. It is time for the MIC to work with other political parties. We don’t mind the MIC heading the task force.”

On Saturday, MIC president G Palanivel, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, announced that he had submitted the community’s 2013 Budget wish list to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. Among other things, MIC wants the government to provide a special allocation for the community’s development activities.

Nalla has sought 10% special allocation

Commenting on the proposed special allocation, Sambanthan said it must be used for various development projects to enhance the living standard of Indians.

“But MIC cannot take full credit of the special grant,” he said.

“The allocation must be delivered to the community via the special task force. And IPF believes the task force would be a more transparent way to channel the money to the community.”
MIUP chairman K Nallakaruppan shares Sambanthan’s views.

He told FMT that the government should allocate a large sum in the 2013 Budget for use in programmes to put Indians on par with the Malays and Chinese.

“I too have sent a letter to the prime minister asking for the special allocation,” he said. “I am not aware of Palanivel’s request.

“We have already proposed a 10% special allocation in the 2013 budget,” he said.

IPF slighted by senatorship snub

Despite being shunted, its president says party will remain loyal to the Umno-BN administration under Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian Progressive Front (IPF) is still comfortable with the administration of Najib Tun Razak despite being overlooked for a senatorship, said its president M Sambanthan.

“We have gone through 20 years of hardship and struggle and I want the party to remain strong,” he said after declining an invitation from PKR leader S Manikavasagam to join Pakatan Rakyat.

Manikavasagam had said it was time for IPF to leave the BN coalition in light of a senatorship being given to a relatively new kid on the block – the Malaysian Indian United Party’s (MIUP) KS Nallakaruppan.

Nallakaruppan was appointed a senator in Dewan Negara yesterday.

While many IPF members are unhappy with BN’s decision to give priority to MIUP, Sambanthan chose to be guarded and stoic in his response to Nallakaruppan’s appointment.

“What can I say? IPF was not lucky this time. I congratulate Nallakaruppan. I hope he will cater to the Indian community’s pressing concerns,” was all the IPF president ventured to say.

IPF is an Indian based party that was formed in 1990 by the late MG Pandithan after he was expelled by MIC’s former president S Samy Vellu for criticising the party’s leadership.

In the 1990 general election, IPF threw its support behind opposition coalition Gagasan Rakyat but later had a change heart and pledged its loyalty to BN.

But IPF’s attempt to become part of the BN coalition has been consistently blocked by MIC.

Meanwhile, Sambanthan also kept silent about rumours that IPF will contest in at least one state seat, either in Selangor or Perak, in the next general election.

According to a party insider, IPF is eyeing the Semenyih state seat in Selangor and Hulu Kinta assembly seat in Perak.

However, he could not confirm if the party president had officially made his intentions known to Najib who is also BN chairman.

When asked, Sambanthan said: “The BN top leadership had not discussed the seats with us. But, we will happy if Najib lets us contest in any seat.”

IPF Will Pursue Dreams To Become BN Component Party

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- The Indian Progressive Front (IPF) will continue to pursue its dream of being accepted as a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN).

Party president M. Sambathan said IPF had been a staunch BN supporter and hoped its application to become a full member would be backed by other BN component parties.

IPF, a splinter of MIC, was formed by the late Tan Sri M. G. Pandithan in 1991, following a fallout between him and then-MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

Since then, its application to become a full BN member was rejected (as the acceptance needs consensus from all component parties).

However, early this year, IPF was accepted as an associate member of BN.

"We still hope the BN will open its doors for us to become a permanent member. IPF treats MIC as an older brother and hopes all BN component parties will support our application," Sambathan said at the party's 19th annual general assembly (AGM) at Seri Kembangan here Sunday.

The AGM was opened by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also BN deputy chairman.