KUALA LUMPUR 30 June – MIC, the largest Indian-based political party in the country, will most likely sit out at the state polls, expected to be held in six states within the next two months.
The party however has decided that it will render support, including its election machinery resources to all Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition candidates at the looming state polls, a MIC source told Xklusif.
The sit-out is considered historic by political analysts as this is the first occasion that the party, one of the long-serving members of the BN coalition, has decided not to contest any seat in the state elections.
“Yes, the party has decided not to go into the state elections. We will let other parties in the BN and in Pakatan Harapan contest in the coming polls.
“However, we in the spirit of BN will continue our support for candidates of the BN coalition during the elections. We will not forsake our comrades in the BN,” said a highly placed party source when contacted.
If this is indeed true then, the decision would be a way for the party to demonstrate that it had moved away from the clutches of UMNO, which is seen as too dominant in the BN.
Analysts reveal that this decision, if true, could also help MIC regain its self-respect as it had been for far too long seen as subservient to UMNO. This caused the party to lose support largely from the Malaysian Indian community.
“All this while, the impression created is that MIC dances to the tune played by UMNO but now it looks like the party has put a stop to this. They (the leaders) have started thinking. They have their own agenda and it’s being followed regardless of UMNO.
“MIC lost a bit of the Indian support in the past as it had to bow down to UMNO. But now it’s not UMNO which is running the government. UMNO is already at its knees. Now with MIC pullout it will be a further damage to UMNO and the BN,” said an analyst who declined to be named.
Six states – Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Pulau Pinang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu — will have their respective state assemblies dissolved before the first week of July.
The Elections Commission is expected to hold elections in all six states simultaneously in August this year.
The Election Commission is also expected to announce the nomination and polling days for the six state polls of Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu in the coming weeks. — Xklusif
