Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party has thrown its support behind PM Najib and BN for the upcoming Bagan Pinang by-election. Not surprising since the PM will be launching the party just a day before the by-election.

MMSP president RS Thanenthiran said the Indian voters of Bagan Pinang have much more to gain should BN’s yet-to-be named candidate win, as the coalition is the ruling state government.

“But if the seat falls to the opposition, it will be a waste for the Indian community there, because they cannot do much in terms of social, educational and economic development,” said Thanenthiran when contacted today.

“This (Bagan Pinang) is a test ground. The prime minister has made various promises to the Indian community. We should give him and his 1Malaysia concept a chance,” he added.

Thanenthiran said a MMSP delegation has met Najib twice – in March and in July – where the prime minister listened to their grouses and pledged to resolve the woes of the Indian community.

“We appreciate that he made time for us and he realises that something must be done – education, gangsterism, alcoholism and work opportunities – these problems were highlighted and he even took down notes,” he said.

However, Thanenthiran stressed that MMSP will remain an “independent” party, despite cozy ties with Najib, adding that the latter was invited to launch the party as the prime minister, and not as the BN chair.

“We are greatly honoured because our PM has an open mind…. We are the Makkal Sakti (people’s power) party and it is clear that this PM is a people’s PM.

“We are attracted to his 1Malaysia concept. This is what we are asking for. We hope by inviting the PM, we can get a clear picture of the 1Malaysia concept,” he said.

I think deep down, people will be happy if MMSP manage to get things down. However, outwardly, it seems like Thanenthiran is riding on Makkal Sakthi and Hindraf name for his party benefit. However, they must be careful to not end up puppets for either coalition. With a claim of 50,000 members, MMSP can try to do something beneficial, but so far, I haven’t heard them speaking on any of the latest issues – Kg Buah Pala or Seksyen 23 cow head protest, for example.

MMSP has an ally in ex-PM Mahathir :

“There seems to be a lot of support for the formation of this party. I think it is a good thing because we don’t want to lose the support of the Indians,” he said to newsmen at his Hari Raya open house in Seri Kembangan on Saturday.

When asked if the formation of another Indian party would dilute MIC’s influence further, he replied: “Well, I think the influence of MIC has already been diluted.”

Ouch!

Meanwhile, HINDRAF’s Waytha is not happy that the movement is being linked with MMSP:

Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Front) chief P Waythamoorthy is livid over news reports that attempts are being made to connect the strictly apolitical human rights and equal rights movement with the newly-registered Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP).

“There seems to be a convoluted agenda to draw similarities between Hindraf and MMSP and this is being encouraged by the powers-that-be,” said Waythamoorthy in a statement toMalaysiakini.

“It is strange that the prime minister agreed to launch a party which is not a member of the ruling Barisan Nasional. The speed with which MMSP was registered speaks for itself.” 

Waythamoorthy (left) pointed out that MIC, a founder member of the BN, has also warned several times that it would veto any application by the MMSP to join the BN. Admission to BN must be unanimous, while expulsion is by a simple majority. 

“The pair behind the MMSP were ordinary members, if the term can be used, of Hindraf,” said Waythamoorthy.

MMSP is headed by RS Thanenthiran (below), who is party president, and Kannan Ramasamy, the party secretary-general. [I thought they both were some sort of coordinators in HINDRAF]

Both men were active with Hindraf after the government crackdown where a number of the movements lawyers and a volunteer were arrested, noted Waythamoorthy.

‘Makkal sakthi’ expropriated

Explaining the differences between Hindraf and MMSP, Waythamoorthy stressed that the latter is trying to capitalise on the term “makkal sakthi”, Tamil for people power, which was made popular by the rights movement in late 2007.

… “Hindraf will continue to be an umbrella NGO for 30 Indian-based groups which agreed and contributed towards its formation,” said Waythamoorthy. “We are neither pro-Pakatan or anti-BN despite our support for the opposition in the last general election.” 

The thrust of Hindraf, according to Waythamoorthy, is to support whoever is pledged towards dismantling the apartheid-like structure of race and religion which has descended on Malaysia.

At the same time, he pledged, the movement will oppose anyone who wants to divide the people of Malaysia along racial and religious lines in politics. 

“In short, we are for the truth, regardless of how some people may feel about it,” said Waythamoorthy. “The truth cannot be politicised or sacrificed for reasons of political expediency.” 

Drawing a distinction between BN and Umno, the Hindraf chief vowed that his movement will have nothing to do with the Malay-based party, which he blames for all the woes of Malaysians of Indian origin and other Malaysians too.

He does not see Umno redeeming itself ever in the eyes of the Indian community “because it is too set in its ways and politics, and will continue on its death-wish path and implode sooner rather than later”. 

Elder brother has right to form own party

The MMSP, claimed Waythamoorthy, is like many other Indian-based political parties who want to emulate the MIC and bring in the Indian votes for the BN to shore up Umno in power “in return for some crumbs from the spoils of office”. 

“MMSP is not even a splinter group of Hindraf,” stressed Waythamoorthy. “Neither is the Human Rights Party which is headed by my brother P Uthayakumar and still awaiting registration, unlike the MMSP. 

“Uthaya has never been a Hindraf activist. He was only the legal advisor.” [This is very confusing statement!]

Uthayakumar thinks that the objectives of Hindraf need to be given a political platform, according to Waythamoorthy.

While he has no quarrel with his brother, he begs to differ since “Hindraf is not his call”.

However, Waythamoorthy concedes that his brother has a right to form his own political party to at least drive home to the electorate the lessons that he has learned during his years in detention under the ISA.

He declined to dwell further on the Human Rights Party,which he was given to understand has no links either with the MMSP. 

Waythamoorthy is in self-imposed exile in London where Hindraf has an office, in addition to India, Australia and New York.

The movement’s main work is to liaise with the United Nations, the US State Department and the UK Parliament. Hindraf is also awaiting recognition from the European Parliament.

It also releases the Malaysian Indian Minority and Human Rights Violations Annual Report at the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin and Pravasi Bharathiya Divas international conference every year.

The latter is a gathering of the Indian diaspora where Hindraf and MIC, among others from Malaysia, are represented.

I won’t be surprised if its all some sort of drama. MMSP may end up merging with MIC after Samy leaves, or it may bring in Dato Subra as a heavy weight.  Or it could end up like KIMMA and IPF, forever waiting outside of the coalition.