FMT:
MCA-MIC-PN talks: a sign of desperation, or match made in heaven?
5 hours ago
Minderjeet Kaur
Puad Zarkashi of Umno says PAS has a poor record with non-Malay partners, but a political analyst says desperation may bring the two sides together
Leaders of MCA and MIC were part of PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin’s 2020-2021 coalition government.
PETALING JAYA: Informal talks on electoral cooperation between Perikatan Nasional and MCA and MIC of Barisan Nasional have been described both as a sign of desperation as well as a “match made in heaven”.
Puad Zarkashi.
Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi suggested that perhaps MCA, MIC, PAS and Bersatu are the ones panicking because the general election is getting closer “and they have yet to find a winning formula for their political survival”.
Desperation was also the word used by political analyst Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara.
He said the possibility of MCA and MIC aligning with PN was a “match made in heaven”.
However, he said the two sides also appeared to be desperate to find partners while the clock was ticking down towards the next general election, which must be held by early 2028.
“MCA and MIC want to find a new partner and PN is offering them a relationship,” Azmi told FMT.
Reports about talks between the opposition and the two BN parties were confirmed by PN secretary-general Azmin Ali on Sept 5. He said informal discussions had taken place with MCA and MIC, both of which remain BN members. He said the two parties acknowledged that the policies of Muhyiddin Yassin’s PN government in 2020 were fair and inclusive.
Non-Malay parties and PAS
However, Puad said PAS, the lynchpin of PN, had a poor record of working with non-Malay partners.
He said PAS voters would not back non-Malay candidates. “That’s what happened to Gerakan’s president when he lost in Bayan Lepas, a PAS stronghold, at the 2023 Penang state elections,” Puad told FMT.
He said PN lacked political sincerity and had a history of breaking ties. “Their track record in working with non-Malay parties has been poor, inconsistent and easily abandoned,” he said.
“One reason for the Sheraton Move in 2020 was Muhyiddin Yassin rejecting DAP after blaming them for Bersatu’s defeat in Tanjung Piai. PAS also left Pakatan Rakyat, accusing DAP of being too Chinese.”
Puad said MCA and MIC would simply be used as props to give PN a multiracial image.
“There will be no sincerity if MCA, MIC and PN work together. MIC and MCA are only tools for PN to build a narrative that it is a multi-racial coalition,” he said.
He said Umno was not panicking, arguing MCA and MIC still relied on Malay votes delivered by Umno’s grassroots.
Match made in heaven
Azmi Hassan, who said the possibility of MCA and MIC aligning with PN was a “match made in heaven”, said PN needs rejuvenation in terms of non-Malay support to strengthen its position at the federal level.
Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi suggested that perhaps MCA, MIC, PAS and Bersatu are the ones panicking because the general election is getting closer “and they have yet to find a winning formula for their political survival”.
Desperation was also the word used by political analyst Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara.
He said the possibility of MCA and MIC aligning with PN was a “match made in heaven”.
However, he said the two sides also appeared to be desperate to find partners while the clock was ticking down towards the next general election, which must be held by early 2028.
“MCA and MIC want to find a new partner and PN is offering them a relationship,” Azmi told FMT.
Reports about talks between the opposition and the two BN parties were confirmed by PN secretary-general Azmin Ali on Sept 5. He said informal discussions had taken place with MCA and MIC, both of which remain BN members. He said the two parties acknowledged that the policies of Muhyiddin Yassin’s PN government in 2020 were fair and inclusive.
Non-Malay parties and PAS
However, Puad said PAS, the lynchpin of PN, had a poor record of working with non-Malay partners.
He said PAS voters would not back non-Malay candidates. “That’s what happened to Gerakan’s president when he lost in Bayan Lepas, a PAS stronghold, at the 2023 Penang state elections,” Puad told FMT.
He said PN lacked political sincerity and had a history of breaking ties. “Their track record in working with non-Malay parties has been poor, inconsistent and easily abandoned,” he said.
“One reason for the Sheraton Move in 2020 was Muhyiddin Yassin rejecting DAP after blaming them for Bersatu’s defeat in Tanjung Piai. PAS also left Pakatan Rakyat, accusing DAP of being too Chinese.”
Puad said MCA and MIC would simply be used as props to give PN a multiracial image.
“There will be no sincerity if MCA, MIC and PN work together. MIC and MCA are only tools for PN to build a narrative that it is a multi-racial coalition,” he said.
He said Umno was not panicking, arguing MCA and MIC still relied on Malay votes delivered by Umno’s grassroots.
Match made in heaven
Azmi Hassan, who said the possibility of MCA and MIC aligning with PN was a “match made in heaven”, said PN needs rejuvenation in terms of non-Malay support to strengthen its position at the federal level.
Azmi Hassan.
“PN is desperate to show it can attract non-Malays, while MIC and MCA are desperate to find a new partner in GE16,” he said.
Azmi said the negotiations would ultimately hinge on a guarantee of electoral seats. “Both sides need assurances on how many seats they can contest in the next election,” he said.
MIC’s defence
MIC deputy president M Saravanan said his party had enjoyed close ties with Muhyiddin, especially when he was prime minister in 2020.
“PN is desperate to show it can attract non-Malays, while MIC and MCA are desperate to find a new partner in GE16,” he said.
Azmi said the negotiations would ultimately hinge on a guarantee of electoral seats. “Both sides need assurances on how many seats they can contest in the next election,” he said.
MIC’s defence
MIC deputy president M Saravanan said his party had enjoyed close ties with Muhyiddin, especially when he was prime minister in 2020.
M Saravanan.
Muhyiddin appointed an MIC leader as a minister because he wanted the party to represent the Indian community, Saravanan said.
He said Muhyiddin had been a senior leader in Barisan Nasional who knew the role MIC played in the past from post-colonial days right till the Covid pandemic.
The Tapah MP, who served as human resources minister under Muhyiddin, also recalled MIC’s work with PN during the pandemic.
“We have good machinery and ensured the aid was mobilised and it reached the ground during difficult times. So PN knows our strength,” he said when contacted.
On Aug 2, MIC president SA Vigneswaran said that the party was prepared to “engage in discussions with any political party” in order to survive and better serve the Indian community, stressing the move was made “in the interest of the party” rather than due to external pressure.
Anwar needs to step in
However, Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim may have to intervene as MCA and MIC are at a “historical crossroads.”
“Anwar may have to interfere as the head of the unity government secretariat. MIC is a component member of a partner in the unity government, and he has to ensure MIC makes a wise decision,” Sivamurugan told FMT.
He described the dilemma facing both parties, which have been allied with Umno since independence but are now struggling for relevance.
“They are at the crossroads of history,” he said.
Sivamurugan said MIC would hold the party’s annual general meeting in October.
“Normally, you invite the BN chairman to officiate the AGM. By then, they may have concluded their internal discussions, and Vigneswaran could use the decisions at state level meetings to shape the party’s direction,” he said.
He further said Azmin’s revelation of informal talks could itself be tactical.
“This could be part of a psychological war as they prepare for GE16,” he said.
Sivamurugan added that MIC, which currently holds no ministerial positions in Anwar’s unity government, faces limited options, either to remain in BN and renegotiate, switch alliances or take a sabbatical to rebuild its grassroots.
“But MIC must remain active so that it does not become just an NGO,” he warned.
Muhyiddin appointed an MIC leader as a minister because he wanted the party to represent the Indian community, Saravanan said.
He said Muhyiddin had been a senior leader in Barisan Nasional who knew the role MIC played in the past from post-colonial days right till the Covid pandemic.
The Tapah MP, who served as human resources minister under Muhyiddin, also recalled MIC’s work with PN during the pandemic.
“We have good machinery and ensured the aid was mobilised and it reached the ground during difficult times. So PN knows our strength,” he said when contacted.
On Aug 2, MIC president SA Vigneswaran said that the party was prepared to “engage in discussions with any political party” in order to survive and better serve the Indian community, stressing the move was made “in the interest of the party” rather than due to external pressure.
Anwar needs to step in
However, Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim may have to intervene as MCA and MIC are at a “historical crossroads.”
“Anwar may have to interfere as the head of the unity government secretariat. MIC is a component member of a partner in the unity government, and he has to ensure MIC makes a wise decision,” Sivamurugan told FMT.
He described the dilemma facing both parties, which have been allied with Umno since independence but are now struggling for relevance.
“They are at the crossroads of history,” he said.
Sivamurugan said MIC would hold the party’s annual general meeting in October.
“Normally, you invite the BN chairman to officiate the AGM. By then, they may have concluded their internal discussions, and Vigneswaran could use the decisions at state level meetings to shape the party’s direction,” he said.
He further said Azmin’s revelation of informal talks could itself be tactical.
“This could be part of a psychological war as they prepare for GE16,” he said.
Sivamurugan added that MIC, which currently holds no ministerial positions in Anwar’s unity government, faces limited options, either to remain in BN and renegotiate, switch alliances or take a sabbatical to rebuild its grassroots.
“But MIC must remain active so that it does not become just an NGO,” he warned.
Calculations, calculations..
ReplyDeleteMCA and MIC likely calculated that PN has a very good chance of forming the government after GE 16.
So the time to get into position to have a seat at the power table is now