Ramasamy takes potshots at Umno for hyping Makkal Sakthi tie-up
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy took potshots at Umno after its leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently showed his support for the Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP), asking it to compete in the next general election under the BN banner.
“Since the MIC is no more the 'Indian darling' of Umno, there is clear preference to include MMSP under the fold of the BN.
“In comparison to the MIC, MMSP is much loyal to the extent of being subservient to Umno. It would be a perfect yes-man party for Umno politicians,” Ramasamy said in a Facebook post today.
Ramasamy, who is also DAP central executive committee member, said Umno’s effort to diminish MIC’s power in favour of MMSP will be futile as he doubts the latter party will lift BN influence in the Indian community.
“Even if Umno can replace MIC with MMSP, it is not going to make any difference to the representation of the Indian community.
“In fact, Indians with self-respect and dignity don’t need the services of these subservient parties anymore.
“If MIC hardly made any impact on improving the lives of Indians in more than 60 years, what can MMSP do to alter the political, economic and social landscape of Indians?” asked Ramasamy.
The Perai assemblyperson compared Hindu organisation Hindraf’s performance with MMSP, suggesting that the party, although founded to politically advance the struggle initiated by Hindraf, will not be “the right party of Indians”.
“At least, Hindraf had the dignity and self-respect to organise a major protest in Kuala Lumpur in November 2007.
“I doubt that MMSP can come near to the struggle waged by Hindraf. The leadership is merely interested in power and positions,” Ramasamy claimed.
He said he believed Zahid is making a bad choice by supporting MMSP and deemed it an insult and humiliation towards the Indian community.
“Zahid can punish the MIC for its disloyalty, but he should be careful in choosing the party that might ostensibly represent Indians in the country,” he added.
His statement came after Zahid, who is BN chairperson, blasted MPs who abandoned the former long-time ruling coalition after it fell from power, saying it was an undignified act and calling them “weak”.
Zahid said this during MMSP’s annual general assembly yesterday and promised that the party would be given the opportunity to contest in GE15 under the BN banner.
His support for MMSP was perceived as a reaction to MIC’s refusal to take Umno’s side in the latter’s previous power struggle with Bersatu for the prime minister's position.
MIC signed a joint Perikatan Nasional statement alongside MCA to support then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, a Bersatu man, in his ultimately failed bid to stay in power.
The party did that in spite of Umno’s withdrawal of its support for Muhyiddin.
