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just for 1.8 million people (probably 900,000 voters)?
Nalla forms new party to ‘help uplift lot of Indians’
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk K.S. Nallakaruppan, who left Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) a dejected man, has formed a new political party for the Indian community. Known as the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP), the party aims to uplift the Indian community especially at the grassroots level by providing better living and health standards, helping youngsters and fighting corruption, he said. Nalla, as he is popularly known, quit PKR on May 25 this year following a rift with de facto leader and then best friend Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was also his former tennis partner. He left after being asked to withdraw from the race for the PKR vice-presidency despite having a high number of nominations.
“I joined PKR in August last year hoping to serve for the betterment of the Indian community but realised it was not the right platform. “The party had limited or no interest at all in helping the Indian community,” he said yesterday during a press conference to announced the new party. Nalla said he had travelled across the country over the past few months and decided to set up the party following advice and suggestions from friends, supporters and the grassroots. “We feel there is room for another Indian-based party and the MIUP can fill that vacuum with great success,” said Nalla, who was MIC deputy youth leader in the 1980s. MIUP, he said, became a registered party on Sept 14 and would be launched next month when the party line-up and manifesto would be announced.
The MIUP president said it had more than 100 registered members and was confident of recruiting 20,000 more over the next four months. Nalla said the party is independent but was open to discussions with Barisan Nasional or the opposition. Nalla said he was not forming the party because of the next general election. “I will contest only if my supporters want me to,” he said. Also present was former PKR youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor, who said he had turned up to support his long-time friend. “As the Gerak chairman, we are open to any party that fights corruption and we are confident this party will do just that,” he added.
Nalla sets up his party
source
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Parti Keadilan Rakyat Kepong division chairman Datuk S. Nallakaruppan announced the formation of a new party — the Malaysian Indian United Party (MUIP) — yesterday.
The 61-year-old businessman named himself MIUP president and said he hoped to sign up 20,000 members within three months. The party was registered on Sept 14. Nalla said when the party is officially launched at the Putra World Trade Centre next month, it would have about 5,000 pioneer members. “My aim is simple. I want to help and upgrade the Indian community in general,” he said at his Taman Duta home. Nalla said he was willing to work with any political party, be it from Barisan Nasional or the opposition.
“We feel there is room for another Indian-based party in our political sphere and believe MIUP can fill that vacuum with great success.” Asked if he was planning to stand for the forthcoming general election, Nalla said he was considering it. Nalla was at one time a close associate of Keadilan adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He failed to be nominated for the Ijok by-election in April and was instructed by Anwar to withdraw from the contest for the party’s vice-presidency despite obtaining the second highest number of nominations. On May 25, Nalla quit Keadilan along with eight others, claiming Indians were given less opportunity in the party and that promises made to him had not been honoured. Nalla was invited by Anwar to join Keadilan in August last year.
