Newly-launched Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) has pledged support for Barisan Nasional's bid to retain the Bagan Pinang state seat during the by-election next month.
Bagan Pinang folks will go to the polls on Oct 11, just a day after MMSP's official launch and first annual meeting to be officiated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Serdang, Selangor.
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.
Indians form a significant 19.9 percent minority of the 13,664 voters in the constituency.
Met PM twice
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.
Thanenthiran said the party aimed to address the woes of the hardcore Indian poor and boasts a membership of 50,000, registered over the past three months.
He said the warm reception his party has received was an indication that the Indian community was unhappy with the current crop of political parties and were looking for another platform.
Wants to contest in elections
However, he said MMSP was willing to form alliances with any political party if they can provide a "clear direction and plan" for the Indian community.
He confirmed that MMSP plans to stand for elections in the future but has yet to identify possible seats, adding that the main priority now was to build the party.
He declined to comment when asked if MMSP was now in direct competition with MIC.
"I am the very, very, very least interested in MIC. We have had enough of their stories. We want change and our own direction... I don't know anything about them and I don't want to talk about them," he said.
The Oct 11 launch will be followed by MMSP's inaugural annual general meeting, held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park, Serdang.
Thanenthiran first gained prominence as a Penang-based national coordinator for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) movement while its leaders were either incarcerated or was in self-exile.
He and his followers broke away from Hindraf earlier this year and formed the MMSP, which unlike most parties, was fast-tracked by the Registrar of Societies.
MK
26/09/09
Bagan Pinang folks will go to the polls on Oct 11, just a day after MMSP's official launch and first annual meeting to be officiated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in Serdang, Selangor.
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.
Indians form a significant 19.9 percent minority of the 13,664 voters in the constituency.
Met PM twice
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.
Thanenthiran said the party aimed to address the woes of the hardcore Indian poor and boasts a membership of 50,000, registered over the past three months.
He said the warm reception his party has received was an indication that the Indian community was unhappy with the current crop of political parties and were looking for another platform.
Wants to contest in elections
However, he said MMSP was willing to form alliances with any political party if they can provide a "clear direction and plan" for the Indian community.
He confirmed that MMSP plans to stand for elections in the future but has yet to identify possible seats, adding that the main priority now was to build the party.
He declined to comment when asked if MMSP was now in direct competition with MIC.
"I am the very, very, very least interested in MIC. We have had enough of their stories. We want change and our own direction... I don't know anything about them and I don't want to talk about them," he said.
The Oct 11 launch will be followed by MMSP's inaugural annual general meeting, held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park, Serdang.
Thanenthiran first gained prominence as a Penang-based national coordinator for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) movement while its leaders were either incarcerated or was in self-exile.
He and his followers broke away from Hindraf earlier this year and formed the MMSP, which unlike most parties, was fast-tracked by the Registrar of Societies.
MK
26/09/09
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