Ex-MIC leader Sivarraajh says mulling political career options after meeting Opposition leader
KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — Senator Datuk C. Sivarraajh has admitted to meeting Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin twice since his resignation from MIC after being sacked as its central working committee (CWC) member.
However, he said he has yet to decide whether or not to join the Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal Opposition comprising Bersatu, PAS, and Gerakan, news portal Malaysiakini reported today.
“Yes, I met with Hamzah twice after my sacking. He called me up to meet and I met him.
“But we did not discuss anything on my admission to PN. Just a normal meeting,” he was quoted as saying.
Hamzah is also Bersatu secretary-general.
Sivarraajh had been rumoured to join PN by leading its special committee for ethnic Indians.
He told the news portal that he is currently a “free man”, adding that he has also met representatives from the government.
“I will consider the available choices before making a decision for the future of my political career,” he was quoted as saying.
The news portal quoted unnamed Bersatu insiders saying that Sivarraajh had been promised a ministerial post if PN succeeds in taking back federal power.
“He (Sivarraajh) was given a choice to form a special committee for the Indian community.
“If PN returns to government, then he is promised a Cabinet post,” one Bersatu source was quoted as saying.
Another reportedly said that Sivarraajh will not join any PN component party but instead lead the special committee that may in future “become a political party for Indians aligned with PN”.
Apart from Sivarraajh, the news portal reported Bersatu sources saying former Selangor MIC Youth leader SP Punithan had met Hamzah.
MIC is a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that is part of the federal “unity” government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from Pakatan Harapan.
Sivarraajh was appointed to the CWC by MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran after he lost the vice-presidency in the 2021 party election.
The 46-year-old claimed to have been “impeded” politically as well, but Malaysiakini reported MIC vice-president Datuk T. Mohan dismissing Sivarraajh’s allegation.
“What is his contribution to the party all these while? After he lost in the party election, the leadership appointed him a member of the CWC.
“He was also appointed the Padang Serai coordinator in the last election and stood as candidate for BN before supporting his appointment as senator.
“So where has the party impeded him?” Mohan who is also a senator, was quoted as saying.
