FMT:
MIC doesn’t know what it wants, says analyst
5 HOURS AGO
Predeep Nambiar
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara says the party is sending mixed signals about its possible exit from BN
MIC president SA Vigneswaran(right) said at the party’s annual meeting that MIC will back Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim even if it leaves BN.
PETALING JAYA: MIC does not know what it wants and is sending mixed signals about its possible exit from Barisan Nasional, says an analyst, who believes the party will not be missed by BN and has little to offer Pakatan Harapan.
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said MIC president SA Vigneswaran’s statement that the party will back Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim even if it leaves BN shows that the party is caught between alliances, and has little leverage left.
“It is similar to Umno in Sabah. Out of the state bloc, but still with the federal bloc. MIC, like Umno, does not know what to do,” he told FMT.
MIC had no bargaining power with PH, as PKR and DAP were already strong among Indian voters. “PH can draw Indian votes far better than MIC. MIC has nothing to offer,” he said.
On the other hand, BN, particularly Umno, may even gain if MIC quits, as seat talks would become simpler.
“If MIC leaves, BN will not need to think about seat deals in the Melaka and Johor state elections or the next national general election. Umno can go directly for those seats,” he said.
No relevance without Umno votes
Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said MIC’s already weak electoral outlook could be worsened by leaving BN as MIC’s relevance in national politics had long depended on Umno’s vote base.
“Without that, the party becomes even less relevant,” he said.
Awang said MIC should focus on regaining support from Indian voters instead of blaming Umno or others. “If MIC goes solo, its political life will end even faster. It will no longer matter in the mainstream.”
Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said MIC president SA Vigneswaran’s statement that the party will back Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim even if it leaves BN shows that the party is caught between alliances, and has little leverage left.
“It is similar to Umno in Sabah. Out of the state bloc, but still with the federal bloc. MIC, like Umno, does not know what to do,” he told FMT.
MIC had no bargaining power with PH, as PKR and DAP were already strong among Indian voters. “PH can draw Indian votes far better than MIC. MIC has nothing to offer,” he said.
On the other hand, BN, particularly Umno, may even gain if MIC quits, as seat talks would become simpler.
“If MIC leaves, BN will not need to think about seat deals in the Melaka and Johor state elections or the next national general election. Umno can go directly for those seats,” he said.
No relevance without Umno votes
Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said MIC’s already weak electoral outlook could be worsened by leaving BN as MIC’s relevance in national politics had long depended on Umno’s vote base.
“Without that, the party becomes even less relevant,” he said.
Awang said MIC should focus on regaining support from Indian voters instead of blaming Umno or others. “If MIC goes solo, its political life will end even faster. It will no longer matter in the mainstream.”
MIC-DAP-PKR tussle
Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said PH would resist MIC’s entry because DAP and PKR already compete for non-Malay seats. “They will not give up their seats for MIC,” he said.
Azmil said Indian voters were growing unhappy with the Madani government, and MIC may be trying to tap this mood by looking more independent.
However, he said this would not help in the elections. “Three-way fights will split votes and hurt MIC,” he said.
Earlier, Vigneswaran said MIC delegates unanimously agreed at the annual convention in Shah Alam yesterday to defer the final decision on leaving BN to the central working committee and party president.
He ruled out the possibility of going solo, and said MIC will only decide which coalition to join if it decides to withdraw from BN. He said Anwar had advised him to rethink the decision because MIC has been with BN for a long time.
MIC, MCA and Umno were the founding partners of the pre-independence Alliance party, which later became Barisan Nasional in 1973.
Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said PH would resist MIC’s entry because DAP and PKR already compete for non-Malay seats. “They will not give up their seats for MIC,” he said.
Azmil said Indian voters were growing unhappy with the Madani government, and MIC may be trying to tap this mood by looking more independent.
However, he said this would not help in the elections. “Three-way fights will split votes and hurt MIC,” he said.
Earlier, Vigneswaran said MIC delegates unanimously agreed at the annual convention in Shah Alam yesterday to defer the final decision on leaving BN to the central working committee and party president.
He ruled out the possibility of going solo, and said MIC will only decide which coalition to join if it decides to withdraw from BN. He said Anwar had advised him to rethink the decision because MIC has been with BN for a long time.
MIC, MCA and Umno were the founding partners of the pre-independence Alliance party, which later became Barisan Nasional in 1973.
Quite a number of PKR branches almost look like MIC branches...with majority Indian members. PKR definitely competitive with MIC to represent the Indian community.
ReplyDeleteDAP has its own ideology, and Indians are not really influential, apart from a few prominent figures.
The Karpal Singh clan doesn't really count , most Tamils don't consider them Indians wakakaka.