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Published: Sunday October 11, 2009 MYT 2:45:00 PM
Updated: Sunday October 11, 2009 MYT 2:46:09 PM

MIC is the only true representative for the Indian Community: Palanivel

By A. LETCHUMANAN

PETALING JAYA: MIC is the real “sakti” for the Indian community and has been working hard on the ground, its deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel said here.

“The party members have been actively working for Barisan Nasional in the Bagan Pinang by-election. I am sure Umno will know who the real workers are.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin saw for himself the work of MIC in Sua Betong,” he said in his blog, www.gpalanivel.com

Commenting on the launch of Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party, he said the MIC “was not a new baby” like Makkal Sakti but a 63-year-old party born in a temple in Jalan Ipoh.

“The MIC was created out of an intense fire which still burns in the heart of every MIC member. It was born out of nationalism and a party which is a signatory to the Merdeka Agreement,” he said.

Palanivel said Indians have an emotional link with MIC, recalling that the country’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman had once said: “Even if there was only one Indian in the MIC, I would only talk to the MIC”.

“But unfortunately we no longer live in the era of leaders like Tunku,” he said.

He said that it was unfair to blame the MIC for Barisan’s defeats in many seats in the 2008 general election.

“The MIC is only a minority. So, how could it have brought about the downfall of the coalition. How can we alone bring about the fall of the strong Barisan governments in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor,” he asked?

Palanivel stressed that the main reason for Barisan’s vastly reduced majority was widespread anger, across all races, against Barisan.