MIC may withdraw its lone minister, deputies from Govt

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC is studying a proposal for the party to withdraw its one minister and two deputy ministers from the Government as a protest over the lack of importance accorded to the Indian community, said a senior party official.
The official, who declined to be named, said the proposal was drawn up at a meeting of top party officials on Friday.
“The proposal will be tabled in the party’s central working committee meeting on Thursday where it is expected to be endorsed,” he said.
MIC’s sole representative in the new Cabinet is Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam who was reappointed the Human Resources Minister.
The party also has two deputy ministers namely Datuk M. Saravanan (Federal Territories Ministry) and Datuk S. K. Devamany (Prime Minister’s Department).
“The MIC as the third largest component member in the Barisan Nasional had not been given due respect or accorded the deserving treatment by the new government.
“However, even if we do withdraw our representatives, MIC will remain in Barisan but would concentrate on uniting the Indian community,” added the official.
He said party members were unhappy that their request for a senior ministerial portfolio in the Cabinet had not been accepted despite repeated appeals to the then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and later to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“MIC had requested for the Works Ministry portfolio – a post held by party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu until he lost the Sungai Siput parliamentary constituency in the last general elections,” he said, adding that former MIC president, the late Tan Sri V. Manickavasagam had held the Transport Ministry portfolio.
The official said the Human Resources Ministry is considered a junior post in the Cabinet and did not fit the party’s status as the third largest component party in the Barisan.
“The MIC brought back Indian voters to the Barisan in the recent Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang by-elections.
“The administration line-up will further erode the support of the Indian community for the coalition,” he said, adding that the MIC was disappointed that other component parties were given more and better positions.

tunku : mic must first show that it really represent the actual support from the indian community before demanding for things.this is what make bn weaker when a component party keep demanding 1001 thing for themselves.they should be grateful that with the worst performance they still have 1 minister and 2 deputy ministers in the cabinet.there is also 1 deputy minister frpm ppp which represent the indian communities. my advice to mic, don't be too greedy. the human resource ministry is an important ministry too. ask your mic minister to help the poor indians to get jobs.the want in pm's department can should be able to solve their problems by bringing matter to the pm.what else you want?prove it in the next GE that you can win back all the seats you lost but please ask your president to resign now.he is a rejected leader and a rejected leader will never bring in supports.
if you still want to pull out, please do so asap as najib can appoint someone from ppp or even gerakan's indian to be minister and deputy ministers.