PETALING JAYA: Many political parties, including DAP, have collaborated with PAS in the past, and it is hypocritical to criticise MIC for being open to working with the Islamist party, says an MIC leader.
MIC national strategic officer Datuk Thinalan T Rajagopalu said Malaysian political history showed that DAP had worked with PAS previously and even accepted its splinter party Amanah as a component of Pakatan Harapan.
“If a relationship with PAS is considered a political sin, why was DAP absolved from that stigma? Media records showed that DAP collaborated with PAS to take over the Selangor government, but during that time, PAS decided not to work with DAP.
“Why was that accepted, but when MIC was perceived to be working with PAS, then it is considered a taboo?” questioned Thinalan in a statement on Monday (Sept 22).
Thinalan also pointed out that DAP had collaborated with PAS to form the Perak state government in 2008.
“Why did DAP choose the mentri besar to be Datuk Seri Mohammed Nizar Jamaluddin (of PAS), who is from a party that they claim to be extremists?” questioned Thinalan.
Thinalan said DAP was the last party that should preach to MIC about principles in political cooperation.
“MIC can determine its own direction. Whatever decision it is, we will explain it to our grassroots and let them understand,” he added.
Thinalan claimed that recently, there were efforts to create a perception that MIC and PAS’s cooperation could cause the Barisan Nasional component party to lose their Indian support.
“Such an allegation is not just baseless, but reflects the political hypocrisy of certain groups,” he added.
At the same time, Thinalan said MIC’s meeting with other political parties is considered a normal matter, pointing out that Umno had previously held several meetings with PAS.
“Why can Umno meet PAS without any negative perception, but MIC continues to be a target of slander?” he asked.
Thinalan said political cooperation is not something out of the ordinary in Malaysia, as nearly every party in Malaysia has collaborated with another before for strategic purposes.
He also noted how MIC had worked with PAS in the previous Perikatan Nasional government, and during that period, there were no issues affecting the Indian community.
Thinalan urged DAP to stop interfering in MIC’s internal affairs.
It was previously reported that MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran had expressed MIC’s openness to cooperate with or join Perikatan, but clarified that this had not been finalised.
Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he would seek clarification from Vigneswaran regarding the possibility of MIC joining Perikatan.
On Sept 12, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man claimed that several parties had expressed interest in joining Perikatan, but declined to name them when asked if they included Barisan component parties.
