If MIC needs to be rescued by Umno, how can it champion the Indians’ interest?

Press Statement by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat in Ipoh on 31^st, January, 2015

If MIC needs to be rescued by Umno, how can it champion the Indians’ interest?

In the 2008 general elections, the then President of MIC DS Samy Vellu and the Present President of MIC Datuk Palanivel both lost their seats. The results were a shocker and sent waves to all. But the truth was that it was the beginning of the problems for MIC.

Over the years MIC has consistently failed to articulate to address the many burning issues affecting the community. The Indians in Malaysia are said to have:-

i) the highest rate of school drop outs 

ii) the highest illiteracy rate

iii) the highest suicide rates

iv) the highest without identification cards and birth certificates

v) the highest number of single mothers

vi) the highest rate of alcoholics

vii) the highest rate of jail detainees

In 1970, there were over 17% Indians in the civil service. Now there are less than 5% Indians in the service. The GLCs are dominated by the Malays while the Chinese are strongly represented in the private sector. Indians inhabit the margins of both the civil and private sectors.

Before 2008 general election, the MIC had 7  MP’s in the Dewan Rakyat. But in 2008 general election, they were nearly wiped out.

The fight within the MIC leadership is most shocking. What surprises most is that the fight is for the leadership positions. Not withstanding the outcome in the last GE of 2013 where they were nearly wiped out, MIC has not learnt the bitter lesson of simple politics. The call is to address the people’s woes which go unattended. This marginalized community drawback will not be settled by politicians who are keen only to preserve their own turf.

Three days ago, MIC Vice President Datuk M Saravanan has said that Palanivel as President was the choice of Najib. Although unable to deliver to the needs of the Indian community, now it looks like MIC has a puppet President and the weakest among all its former Presidents.

If MIC president needs to be decided by Umno, where is MIC’s credibility and dignity?

And if the party needs to be rescued by Umno, how can it champion the Indians’ interest?

MIC must focus to help the have not Indian community and settle their internal problems immediately and with dignity.