MIPP’s principles, MCA’s bravado and a question for MIC

Malaysian Indian People’s Party, a Perikatan Nasional component, decided to skip the Melaka state election as a matter of principle, or so they say.

MIPP president P Punithan said the party would not compromise its principles simply to secure seats in the Nov 14 polls.

MIPP’s struggle, he declares, is to defend the interests of the Indian community with dignity and principles, and “that the community’s voice and interests deserve proper recognition and representation in the political landscape”.

In short, MIPP likely does not want to be seen as token for the opposition coalition’s supposed inclusiveness.

Which, in essence is fine. After all, how can a party market itself as an outfit that champions the Indian cause when it finds itself marginalised?

It is just horrible branding — apart from the fact they lost their deposits in the Johor election — which could be a factor as to why seat negotiations failed.

Yet, MIPP’s dilemma is also, to a certain extent, MIC’s.

What role does MIC play in the bigger scheme of things with respect to its affiliation with Barisan Nasional?

Would MIC be willing to accept the fact that it is by and large irrelevant and a “diversity hire” of sorts?

Are they content being pliant to Umno, BN’s lynchpin, since such an arrangement may guarantee a government post?

Or will they only display bravado, via empty threats to quit BN, before the party’s AGM?

To MIPP’s credit, they were brave to acknowledge where they stand in PN. It is now time for the MIC to do the same.

Pliancy and bravado, however, also bring us to MCA.

Mocked as being Umno’s lapdog for the longest time, MCA leaders walked out of BN’s candidate announcement over seat allocations, also over principles.

The party, its president Wee Ka Siong said, cannot be pushed around and deserves to be treated with dignity. Wee also later called out BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on his claim that talks held after the walkout were “positive”.

Whether one believes it was just “wayang kulit”, the bravado eventually secured three seats for MCA to contest at the Melaka election.

But can MCA consider this a win?

The optics will definitely boost its morale.

Perhaps this will give MCA something to build on. Perhaps they believe that by riding on the tailcoats of a BN-PN pact they will win over more Chinese support for the party.

But truth be told, their victory would be somewhat hollow if they won based on the support of the non-Chinese voters.

Be that as it may, MCA must surely know they are no force to be reckoned with amongst the Chinese electorate.

But, if survival is the name of the game, then by all means be indebted to the Malay support for putting them back in a position of power in Johor, Negeri Sembilan and now very likely, in Melaka.

MCA now need only ask themselves, “How high?” when told to jump by the likes of Umno and PAS.

Clement Stanley is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.

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