Formation of Makkal Sakti a good move, says Dr M - Daily Express

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Published on: Sunday, September 27, 2009

Kuala Lumpur: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has described the formation of the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party as a good move.

Saying that there was a strong support for its formation, he said the move would also help restore the support of the Indian community towards the Government.

"Since there seems to be a lot of support for the formation of this party, I think it is a good thing because we don't want to lose the support of Indians," he said at a Hari Raya open house which he hosted at his residence here, Saturday.

The new Indian-based party is formed by former leaders of the outlawed organisation, Hindraf, and is headed by Hindraf's national coordinator R. S. Thanenthiran.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to launch the party on Oct 10 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park in Serdang.

Asked whether Makkal Sakti would affect MIC's position as the main Indian-based party in the country, Dr Mahathir said: "I think MIC's influence has already been diluted."

Asked on reports that MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu might consider taking a two-month break from his duties as party president, Dr Mahathir said two months was not enough.

"It should be extended to about 20 years. He has been there for 30 years.

The longer he (Samy Vellu) sits there, the more people are going to hate him," he said.

Dr Mahathir was also asked on the road safety campaign dubbed "Ops Sikap" which was launched in conjunction with the Aidilfitri.

Expressing disappointment over the attitudes of Malaysian drivers whom he said were prone to speeding, he suggested that the Government suspend the licence of those who flouted traffic rules.

"I've been to many countries and never have I seen people driving as fast as the way Malaysian drivers do.

"These drivers are not that good a driver but they cannot wait and always want to go fast, causing accidents," he said.

The 20th Ops Sikap, an integrated operation to minimise road accidents during the festive season, saw 222 people perished on the roads since its launch on Sept 13. The operation ends tomorrow.

Earlier, Dr Mahathir and wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali received guests at their open house.

MIC heading for a split - Malaysia Insider

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by Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — An advertisement on page 12 of the Makkal Osai Tamil daily yesterday is likely to have sent shivers down the spine of the top MIC leadership led by Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

The reason — the advertisement placed by MIC members signals a permanent parting of ways that could lead to the MIC splitting into two as had happened to Umno in 1988.

That year Umno split, with former Umno vice-president and Finance Minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah calling his half Semangat 46 and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad registering Umno Baru.

The advertisement, under the title “Maperum Perani” or Great Movement, is calling on expelled MIC members and Indians above the age of 18 to gather in Klang this Sunday and launch a reawakening movement.

They said the movement is to take charge of the Indian future and reject, without spelling it out, the MIC as representatives of the Indian community and Samy Vellu and his coterie of yesmen as community leaders.

The organisers are simply calling themselves Committee for Reawakening of the Indian community but it is clear supporters of former MIC deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam are involved.

In fact the reason why the top MIC leadership is taking note of the advertisement is that they believe Subramaniam is behind the “new awakening” initiative.

Subramaniam, after losing the battle to inherit the MIC from Samy Vellu, is looking for a new political platform to stay relevant.

Subramaniam lost by a slim majority of 62 votes to incumbent deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel in the recent MIC elections.

While he was defeated the results show his support in the MIC had in fact marginally increased compared to the 2006 contest where he lost to Palanivel by over 400 votes.

The mood this time for change in the MIC was just not large enough for him to win and the vote was also split, with the third challenger Datuk S. Sothinathan garnering about 18 per cent of the votes.

MIC insiders say Subramaniam has emerged as a threat to Samy Vellu and his anointed successor Palanivel and they say it is no surprise that the former is facing possible expulsion from the party.

The MIC central working committee is meeting on Tuesday to decide whether to act against Subramaniam for allegedly tarnishing the party image — a catch-all charge that has been used by Samy Vellu to expel critics over the years.

The incipient reawakening movement therefore is a dagger pointed at Samy Vellu — if he proceeds to expel Subramaniam he faces a situation similar to Umno in 1988.

The MIC could split into two, with Subramaniam taking what is left of the party with him, leaving a shell for Samy Vellu to preside over.

His aim may well be to reconnect with the Indian grassroots that fled to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) after being inspired by the Hindraf and Makkal Sakti movement.

But Subramaniam will be competing with others like the unregistered Human Rights Party and the officially recognised Parti Makkal Sakti Malaysia for the loyalties of the Tamil masses.

The question is: does Subramaniam, 65, have the stamina to start a new and uncertain political journey after a long career in the MIC?

His supporters are forcing him to choose. In fact, the gathering in Klang is to present him with an ultimatum — form a new party, join the PR or retire from politics.

Subramaniam is overseas contemplating his fate and is expected to make a major announcement either before Tuesday or immediately after.