PN may announce Indian People's Party as new component today
Published on: Monday, April 22, 2024
By:
FMT, Elill Easwaran
Malaysian Indian People’s Party president P Punithan (seated, second from left) with central committee members after a meeting last December.
PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional is expected to unveil the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) as its newest component party today.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a well-placed source said the announcement is likely to be made at the PN Supreme Council meeting this evening.
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It is believed that MIPP’s inclusion in the opposition coalition would be the first agenda of the meeting.
“At the last Supreme Council meeting, the decision (to accept MIPP) was unanimously agreed upon,” the source told FMT.
MIPP applied to join PN in 2023.
According to the source, MIPP president P Punithan will be tasked to spearhead the Indian community agenda for PN.
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“We noticed a swing in the Indian vote for PN,” the source said, alluding to the outcome of the state elections in August and reports of the dwindling support among Indians for MIC.
“With an Indian-based party in PN, we are confident the community will support us.”
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Punithan declined to comment.
Last month, FMT reported that several MIC grassroots leaders expressed concern over the party’s dwindling support among Indians, saying they noticed that more people from the community were leaning towards PN.
A Klang Valley MIC grassroots leader claimed that even Indians in urban areas were shifting their support to PN.
Last year, a study by analyst Bridget Welsh, published by Malaysiakini, revealed that Indian votes had dropped by 21%, 19% and 12% for Pakatan Harapan in Negeri Sembilan, Penang and Selangor, respectively, at the six state polls.
On the other hand, the Indian votes for PN in Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor increased by 29%, 19% and 14%, respectively.
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