Palanivel's ouster from Najib's cabinet sealed MIC's fate, Ramasamy says
'In many ways, Palanivel's removal marked the beginning of the party's decline - one that has left it unable to secure even a single ministerial post today,' he said in a statement today.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Focus Malaysia
8 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Should DAP unmask its multi-racial make-up and stay true as a perfect ethnic Chinese party?
HAS DAP misled Malays and Indians to join the party under the pretext that it is a multi-racial party when the party's core support and leadership structure have been predominantly Chinese? Such is the criticism levelled at DAP by opposition-slant political activist Jess (@jezlai) who claimed that despite having consistently promoted a multi-racial agenda and sought to represent the interests of all Malaysians, 'DAP remains a 100% Chinese party'. 'Why more and more Indians & Malays leaving DAP?' the presumably Gerakan influencer asked in a post on X while insinuating discrimination along racial lines on non-Chinese members. 'DAP IS A 100% CHINESE PARTY. DAP NOT A MULTI-RACIAL PARTY' WHY MORE &MORE INDIANS & MALAYS LEAVING DAP? DAP ONLY USE MALAY & INDIAN MEMBERS & LEADERS GET VOTES & POLITICAL SUPPORT. Note – if u meet MALAY & INDIAN DAP MPs & ADUNs specially MP Bentong & MP Bangi, show this video — Jess (@jezlai) July 30, 2025 'DAP only use Malay and Indian members or leaders to gain votes and political support.' Of interest is the revelation by ex-DAP Youth member Venosha Balachandran who claimed that the wing's WhatsApp group 'always speak in Chinese', hence prompting her to leave the group. 'And then one of the ADUN messaged me asking why I left the group to which I replied that you didn't include me in any conversation for everything is in Chinese. 'So what do you expect me to do? Go and translate all the conversations and reply to you? The majority audience to the food … everything is Chinese … they may add one or two sentences in Malay or Tamil … They say vanakam and the Indians are all ready to vote for them … I eventually left the party.' Optics of Malay, Indian faces Interestingly, there were some interactions between Jess and commenters to her post in which one remarked that 'DAP has mastered the art of optics with Malay faces on banners and Indian names in (party) line-ups.' 'But behind closed doors, the same people still pull the strings. You don't build unity by borrowing colors. You build it by sharing the brush.' Concurring with the observation, the influencer even took a swipe at Bentong MP Young and DAP's central executive committee (CEC) member Young Syefura Othman whom she described as 'unintelligent and got condemned by her own race for being a willing stooge to a full-blown Chinese political party'. Jess further refuted the notion that 'DAP leaders are the best performing ministers currently'. 'The reality today shows DAP ministers aren't performing better but similar to BN (Barisan Nasional) ministers … today's Chinese community views DAP as MCA 2.0,' This is when an advocate for the voiceless drew a comparison between DAP and MCA whereby the latter 'never claimed to be multiracial, hence their Chinese focus is expected'. 'But when DAP claims to be multi-racial yet most of their events and communications cater primarily to the Chinese community, it raises questions … You can't claim to be for all races, then act otherwise. It's called hypocrisy.' At the end of the day, Jess dubbed DAP as 'Democratic Acting Popular'. 'DAP deemed members of the PN (Perikatan Nasional) coalition, namely PAS and Bersatu, as racist parties when DAP within their own party practices racism,' she expounded. 'Hello DAP, how long do you want to cheat Malaysians? Malays, Chinese and Indians who left DAP all have one common comment which is DAP is 100% Chinese party'. – Aug 4, 2025
Focus Malaysia
a day ago
- Focus Malaysia
MIC open to new alliances, but Johari dismisses remarks as emotion-driven, not party stand
UMNO Vice President Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani dismissed MIC Deputy President Datuk Seri M. Saravanan's recent remarks hinting that MIC might leave BN, saying it was a personal opinion of Saravanan and not an official party decision. Johari stressed that only decisions made by the party carry weight, not individual statements, and urged against worsening the situation, noting that some leaders may speak out of emotion. 'Did he? When did he say it? Was it him speaking, or the party? Him? He can't make a statement representing the party. An individual cannot.' 'Even I, along with Datuk Jazlan (Mohamed, often say things that are not aligned with the party, but when the party makes a decision, that's different. This is from an individual, it's different.' 'If it's an individual, everyone wants to talk. But if the party makes a decision, then I will comment. For now, I cannot comment,' he said to reporters after officiating the UMNO Pulai Division meeting at the Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat Complex on Saturday. Saravanan had earlier expressed frustration in an interview, claiming he and MIC felt misled by BN Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who allegedly promised Cabinet posts if MIC supported Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister. He also suggested MIC might reconsider its cooperation with the coalition if it continues to be sidelined. Meanwhile, MIC President Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran expressed the party's readiness to engage in discussions with any political party to ensure its survival and better serve the Indian community. Speaking at the 79th Perak MIC Convention yesterday, he said the move prioritises party interests, not external pressure. 'If it benefits the party and the Indian community, I will do whatever is necessary,' he stated. While no formal offers have been received, Vigneswaran remains open to talks. —Aug 3, 2025 Main image: The Vibes
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
MIC risks political marginalisation if it leaves BN, say experts
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC could face a bleak future if it chooses to leave Barisan Nasional (BN), as it would struggle to compete with established multiracial parties amid Malaysia's increasingly competitive political landscape. Political experts believe that the Indian-based party's survival hinges on either remaining within BN, given how closely its identity is tied to the coalition, or undertaking major reforms to remain relevant in the country's political arena. This follows a statement by party president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran, who said MIC is prepared to engage in discussions with any political party to ensure its survival and better serve the Indian community. He added that the decision was made in the party's best interest and not due to pressure from any external party. International Islamic University Malaysia political analyst Associate Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said MIC could face greater political marginalisation if it exits BN, as it would struggle to compete with multiracial parties already gaining support among Indian voters. Speaking to the New Straits Times, Syaza said the party has long depended on BN's framework to maintain its relevance as the Indian community's representative. She added that MIC would also find it difficult to go head-to-head with more established multiracial parties such as PKR and DAP, which have broadened their appeal among Indian Malaysians. "It will be challenging for them to leave BN, as the party has long positioned itself as a representative of the Indian community within BN's larger framework. "This allows them to access resources that would not be available outside BN. "If they leave the coalition, it is unclear how they would compete with parties like PKR and DAP, who also attract Indian support," she said. Syaza added that MIC could only stand a chance outside BN if it goes through significant internal reform, brings in younger leaders and shifts its focus from race-based to issue-based politics. This, she said, could help it shed the perception of being a 'minor' party. However, even with reform, she believes MIC would still face stiff competition. "All in all, I think it is best for MIC to remain in BN but perhaps reinvent itself, much like what Umno is trying to do which is by reaching out to younger voters without losing its core base," she said. Echoing this view, Universiti Malaya political analyst Associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said MIC is unlikely to survive outside BN due to its long-standing reliance on the coalition's political structure and the increasingly fragmented support among Indian voters. He said MIC's traditional strength was built within BN's consociational framework, alongside Umno, representing the Malays, and MCA, representing the Chinese, which provided it access to ministerial posts, patronage networks, and grassroots machinery. "Outside this framework, MIC risks being reduced to a symbolic actor without institutional backing," he said. Awang Azman also pointed out that the Indian vote is now heavily fragmented across Pakatan Harapan (PH), Perikatan Nasional (PN) and various groups, making it difficult for MIC to establish legitimacy without the support of a major coalition. He said the most strategic path forward for MIC is to remain within the coalition, led by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. "Umno under Zahid has shown adaptability by cooperating with PH, demonstrating political pragmatism over rigidity. "This stable and inclusive environment allows MIC space to rehabilitate its image and reconnect with the community through service delivery, policy advocacy, and youth outreach, without the existential risk of venturing into the unknown. "MIC's political survival is not viable outside BN unless it secures a guaranteed platform within a ruling coalition. "Its safest and most strategic path is to work alongside a rejuvenated Umno under Zahid and leverage the machinery of the unity government for the upliftment of the Indian community," he said. Political analyst Assistant Professor Dr Lau Zhe Wei said remaining in BN still offers MIC a viable support structure. He added that while the party may be open to cooperating with other coalitions, such overtures are unlikely to significantly improve its political standing. "For parties like MIC and MCA, there are only two options, whether to stay in BN or form an independent party and stand on their own. "It sounds promising to say they are open to working with other parties, but in reality, Pakatan Harapan does not need them and if they join PN, their fate could be even worse than in BN. "It is a gamble, they could either win independently or suffer even greater losses," he said.
