SEVERAL leaders and grassroots members of MIC are planning to ditch the idea of backing Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidates for the upcoming state elections. 

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, they told The Malaysian Insight that they are not willing to support candidates contesting under the PH banner, although PH-Barisan Nasional (BN) are allies at the federal level. 

MIC, is a component party of BN, a coalition that backs the unity government, helmed by PH.

“The grassroots members are unhappy to be working with PH members and voting for their candidates. 

“Bad history is hard to change and remains forever,” a grassroots member said, suggesting that his group would boycott PH candidates in their constituency. 

Another leader from Selangor said certain PH parties and members are not respecting the Indian-based party although they are all part of the unity government. 

“We can see after the formation of the unity government, those in PH are not respecting MIC, and even MCA. 

“We were not called for proper discussions even for state election seat talks. 

“When all this has happened, why should we back them (PH) for the elections? Better not,” the leader said. 

The formation of the unity government post the general election has changed the political landscape in the country as long-time arch nemesis PH and BN agreed to mend their differences and work together. 

For the upcoming state elections, the formula used by PH-BN was for their component parties to defend their incumbent seats, leaving parties like MIC and MCA in tatters. 

MIC and MCA subsequently decided not to contest in the state polls. 

On Sunday, MIC president S.A. Vigneswaran said he feared the party will be totally sidelined for the next general election, leaving it with only one federal seat to defend. 

He said this was based on the seat talks undertaken by BN and PH for the six-state elections.

He said this meant there were only a few constituencies available for BN to contest.

“During negotiations (for opposition-held seats), however, giving seats to MCA and MIC was never discussed, especially in Kedah, Penang and Selangor.

“Besides that, Umno was not very spirited in holding talks with MCA and MIC.

“Even though they (Umno) said they would give us seats, it was not discussed in negotiations. Because of that, we decided not to contest the state elections,” Vigneswaran said.

End of the road in BN?

A source from within the party said MIC was currently mulling their options after coming to understand that the party has probably reached the end of the road under the unity government. 

“MIC is also looking at all possibilities, including joining Perikatan Nasional (PN) after the state elections,” the source revealed. 

Recently, PN had launched a campaign to boost support from non-Malays, especially the Indian community. 

Selangor PN chairman Mohamed Azmin Ali on Sunday launched the PN Supporters Club Secretariat (Indians) for northern Selangor, which will be headed by MIC Central Working Committee member KR Parthiban.

It was earlier reported that several MIC members are joining PN. –  July 28, 2023.