BN hand in new Makkal Sakthi party?
By Baradan Kuppusamy (The Malaysian Insider)
KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 – The former national co-ordinator of the Hindraf and Makkal Sakthi movement, R.S. Thanenthiran, has formed a new Indian-based political party in an already-crowded Malaysian Indian political scene, saying the community needs a new political vehicle to give voice to its aspirations.
But the speed in which the new party has been registered has raised questions about its expected political alliances.
Already, accusations of the involvement and blessings of Umno has surfaced.
The Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party hopes to ride on the Hindraf wave sparked by the brothers Uthayakumar and Waythamoorthy Ponnusamy, both lawyers, who were the brains behind the Nov 25, 2007 Indian protest in the capital.
The protest had sparked a wave of popular backing for the opposition, enabling Pakatan Rakyat to win big in the March 8, 2008 general election.
“I have the official stamp of approval (registration) for the new party last week. I am ready to announce at an opportune time,” Thanenthiran told The Malaysian Insider in an interview.
“I might do it this week,” he said, adding the new party is “by Indians for Indians.”
Asked whether it has the blessing of Uthayakumar, Thanenthiran said “such blessing” would be very encouraging but was unnecessary, indicating the new party is willing to go on its own, with or without the support of the brothers.
“He (Uthayakumar) is welcome to join the new party or even lead it. I am ready to step aside for him. But if he declines that’s all right. We are free to chart our own course,” Thanenthiran said.
The party, insiders say, has the financial support of several Indian tycoons, one of whom is said to be close to top Umno leaders.
These connections and the speed of the registration for the Makkal Sakthi party also suggest the new party enjoys some form of official blessing, political observers said.
“It is rare to get registration for new political parties at this speed,” they said, citing the 15-year struggle of the Parti Sosialis Malaysia to get official registration, which was only given in 2008.
Nevertheless Thanenthiran said the Makkal Sakthi party is independent and prepared to work with anyone for the benefit of the Indian community.
“Good things can come from any quarters,” he said. “The important thing is to serve the community, to get the best for it.”
A new Indian party, if it has official blessing, would be a new avenue for the Barisan Nasional (BN) to independently communicate with the Indian community, observers said.
“It gives the BN another option besides the MIC to reach out to the Indian grassroots that the MIC has lost,” the observers said. “It is clear that the MIC is like an animal without the body after the Indian grassroots fled to the Pakatan Rakyat.”
“The new party might help win back the grassroots but a lot would depend on the reaction of Uthayakumar and his brother to the new political party,’ the observers said.
Uthayakumar has said he has a “strategic master plan” for the Indian community that would involve both the PR and the BN helping to resolve Indian grouses in return for political support.
