No talks on new Indian-based party in Perikatan, says Bersatu info chief

PETALING JAYA: There have been no talks in relation to the formation of an Indian-based component party within Perikatan Nasional, says Datuk Razali Idris.

“No, there aren’t (any such talks),” the Bersatu information chief told The Star on Friday (July 7).

He was dismissing reports on purported talks to form a new single-race based component party led by former MIC leaders.

Meanwhile, another Perikatan leader said the bloc was more interested in welcoming MIC en masse to support Perikatan.

“So far, I did not hear of any plans to form an exclusive Indian-based component party within PN,” the source said.

However, he said both MIC and its former leaders who recently quit the party are welcome to support Perikatan.

A news portal report, quoting sources, reported that talks are ongoing with former MIC leaders.

The report quoted a division leader on condition of anonymity who said that former MIC leaders will start off as a committee with the ultimate goal being the formation of a single-race based party.

Former MIC Youth chief and vice-president Senator Datuk Sivarraajh Chandran announced his resignation from the party on June 27.

When contacted at the time, Sivarraajh said he was still a senator for Indians and will focus on issues that involve education such as appeals for matriculation admission and intake cases as well as university admissions for the community.

He, however, did not divulge whether he will be heading to another political party.

Selangor MIC Youth chief P. Punithan also handed in his resignation from the party on June 30.

MIC has decided to sit out of the upcoming state polls, saying that it will be focusing on the 16th General Election instead.