Gerakan or MIPP in Penang? Urimai's answer - both irrelevant

Gerakan or MIPP in Penang? Urimai's answer - both irrelevant


Published: Jan 30, 2025 6:51 PM


Summary

• Urimai deputy chairperson David Marshel pours cold water on the debate on whether Gerakan or MIPP should lead PN’s charge in Penang.

• He accuses the leaders of making “superficial boasts” about having non-Malay support in the state.

• He says Chinese voters have long abandoned Gerakan while MIPP has yet to make an impact.

The United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai) has poured cold water on the debate of whether Gerakan or the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) should lead Perikatan Nasional in Penang.

Urimai deputy chairperson David Marshel argued that neither party could make a significant impact in the DAP stronghold.

He referred to their claims of support as "superficial boasts," stating, “Gerakan and MIPP have little to no meaningful backing from non-Malay communities in Penang, or across the country.”

“Given this reality, their leaders’ assertions of strong support from non-Malay communities are both unfounded and misleading,” he added.

‘MIPP just appendage of Bersatu’

David (above) pointed out that MIPP is largely composed of former MIC members but has failed to make any significant strides.

“In the last three by-elections, despite bold claims of Indian support, MIPP remained little more than an appendage of Bersatu,” he added.

The Urimai leader also cast aspersions on MIPP’s pact with Bersatu, since the latter does not grant full membership rights to non-Malays, relegating them to associate status without voting rights.

“This raises serious questions about MIPP’s independence within PN or even its relevance in national politics,” he added.

MIPP president P Punithan


‘Gerakan needs a miracle’

As for Gerakan, David said its president Dominic Lau might reminisce about his party’s past dominance in Penang, but history alone does not translate into present-day support.

“Chinese voters have long abandoned Gerakan, and winning them back would require nothing short of a political miracle.

“MIPP, on the other hand, lacks even a historical legacy to fall back on, making its leader P Punithan’s boast of leading the Indian community in the next state election particularly hollow,” he added.

Gerakan chief Dominic Lau


‘Urimai more effective’

David claimed that Urimai, led by former DAP leader P Ramasamy, had played a more effective role in influencing Indian voters during the recent Sungai Bakap by-election.

He added that the low turnout of Chinese voters was not due to Gerakan’s influence but rather their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government.

“If Gerakan and MIPP struggled to make an impact in a by-election, what basis do they have for claiming leadership over the Chinese and Indian communities?

“Instead of posturing for influence in Penang, both parties should pressure PN leadership to articulate a clear, progressive agenda for non-Malays.

“Without this, Gerakan and MIPP will remain politically irrelevant, offering no real substance to the communities they claim to represent,” he added.

Yesterday, Lau dismissed suggestions for MIPP to lead PN in Penang after MIPP said it is open to discussions on assuming a leadership role in the state.

He questioned the basis for such a move, saying that Gerakan had held the chief minister post for 39 years.