New "Indian Party" launched in Malaysia - With Tamil Name

by israeli.agent | May 19, 2009 at 07:11 pm

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A new platform for the struggle of ethnic Indians in Malaysia is launched recently. The name of the party is "The Malaysia Makkal Sakti " in Tamil (People's power party), but the "founder" Mr. Thanenthiran claims that this one represents the all ethnic Indians in Malaysia.

"Makkal Sakti" is a uniting call of the HINDRAF which was banned by Malaysia under the country's internal security act on the grounds of seeking secession from Malaysia.

Malaysian government accused HINDRAF to have links with militant organizations like LTTE rebels of Sri Lanka and RSS of India. This allegation was denied by HINDRAF leader P. Uthayakumar.

Kuala Lumpur (PTI): A former member of banned Hindu Rights Group on Tuesday announced the formation of a new political party, to fight for the equality of ethnic Indian minority community in multi-ethnic Malaysia.

The Malaysia Makkal Sakti (People's Power) party, will be headed by R S Thanenthiran former Hindu Rights Action Force's (Hindraf's) coordinator, who later quit the group.

"We are neither pro-government nor opposition. We are independent," Mr. Thanenthiran told reporters. He said Makkal Sakti would work with any coalition or party that gave benefits to Indians at large.

The phrase Makkal Sakti was Hindraf's uniting call, when its leaders organised the November 25 2007 rally of ethnic Indians which saw more than 20,000 members of the minority community protesting against alleged marginalisation of the ethnic Indian people.

In December 2007, the top leaders of the Hindraf were detained under the internal security act (ISA) and the group was banned.

Mr. Thanenthiran said his party "would be able to function as a legal platform to continue the struggle."

However, the absence of Hindraf leaders who were released recently from the ISA as part of the new political party could indicate a split among earlier Hindraf supporters.

Makkal Sakti was registered by the government less than two months after its application, a relatively short time for an opposition party to be registered in Malaysia.

Mr. Thanenthiran said his party would champion for the cause of better schools, equal job opportunities for ethnic Indians who make up about eight percent of Malaysia's population of 27 million people.