THE Malaysian Indian People’s Party’s influence in Perikatan Nasional will only be impactful if the party has the backing of Indian community, said P. Ramasamy.

Ramasamy, the head of another Indian-based party, Urimai, however, said MIPP’s admission as a PN component party is big improvement over the subordinate status of Indians as associate members previously.

“For this to happen, MIPP must bravely and honestly take up the cause of Indians in the country especially the poor and marginalised,” he said in a statement today.

MIPP is new party formed by the former members of the MIC. Its president Punithan was the MIC head of Selangor. 

It was admitted into PN on Monday.

Ramasamy said MIPP leaders must move away from the appeasement politics that their former party MIC had with Umno. 

“PAS and Bersatu are dominant component parties of PN. They have the strength of the Malay support. 

“MIPP is yet to be recognised by the Indian community.

“It is yet to be tested whether the MIPP has a political base among the Indian community. Without a political base, the party and its leaders will be too dependent on PN leaders,” said the former DAP leader.

He added that MIPP’s future will be dependent on taking up the rightful cause of the Indian poor and marginalised. 

He said that too much reliance on PN leaders might be detrimental to the interests and welfare of the Indian community. 

“PAS and Bersatu leaders might be dominant in the opposition coalition, but they must respect Indians in the country. 

“If not, they would be repeating the mistakes of what Umno has done in the past,” he said. – April 24, 2024