Bukit Mertajam, April 28 – The outcome of the Permatang Pauh by-election is a foregone conclusion but what the Barisan Nasional is trying to do is to improve its performance compared to 2013 general election, just to show that the imprisonment of Anwar Ibrahim has not affected the voters’ sentiments in the constituency.
For BN to achieve this feat it is crucial that the coalition secures substantial Indian votes out of the 3,500 odd Indian voters in that constituency.
MIC sources from Penang, however, point out that internal bickering prevailing among MIC branches is hampering BN’s efforts to secure the required Indian votes.
Leadership tussle dividing Indian votes
Zahid Hamidi addressing a media briefing in Permatang Pauh with Dr S.Subramaniam and MIC Youth leader Sivarajah and Women leader Mohana Muniandy
MIC is currently undergoing a leadership tussle which has resulted in court battles between several MIC leaders and Registrar of Societies (ROS).
Infighting among Penang MIC leaders came to light at a function on 23th April where Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin was scheduled to announce the BN candidate.
Although both President Dato Seri G.Palanivel and Deputy President Dato Seri Dr S.Subramaniam were present at the function, their body language clearly suggested that they were not comfortable with each other’s presence.
Supporters of both leaders were also seen sticking with their respective teams without much conversation with one another. The division chairman of MIC Permatang Pauh, Suresh Muniandy, is said to be a staunch supporter of Dr Subra and he even publicly snubbed Palanivel.
MIC branch leaders present on that day said Palanivel had sent word to Suresh Muniandy to come over and discuss about election preparations but Suresh refused,snubbing him.
However, on the nomination day Suresh Muniandy attended a campaign function with Dr Subra, which was presided by BN Coordinator for the by-election Dato Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi (photo).
The state leaders of MIC Penang and other division leaders are also equally divided between Palanivel and Dr Subra factions and this split is also negatively affecting the campaign in Permatang Pauh, as far as the Indian voters are concerned.
MIC Penang State Liaison Committee Chairman M.Karuppannan is a strong ally of Palanivel and he is finding it difficult to hit the campaign trail with division chairman Suresh Muniandy, who is closely aligned to Dr Subra.
Loga Bala Mohan’s appointment is also a set-back
Realising that MIC’s internal bickering may harm BN’s campaign to secure Indian voters, PPP’s Penang Chairman and Deputy Minister Datuk Loga Bala Mohan (pic) was appointed as the BN ‘Coordinator’ for the Indian voters.
This caused an immediate uproar among MIC branches in the constituency and several MIC leaders in and out of Penang slammed the decision, alleging it shows another weakness of party leadership.
Loga Bala Mohan tried to calm the MIC branches by saying that he was not a “Coordinator” but mere “facilitator”. Again this raised further questions from MIC leaders who retorted with questions such as “what is the difference between Coordinator and Facilitator” – “then what is the role of MIC?” – and “who are the other facilitators”.
Clearly Loga Bala Mohan’s appointment as the Coordinator or facilitator is also not helping the BN as the MIC branches are resisting to such appointment from other component BN parties.
MIC sources point out that BN leadership should not allow MIC’s leadership tussle to prolong further as it is seriously harming BN’s efforts to bring the Indian voters back to BN’s fold.
Permatang Pauh is a “lost” seat for BN and therefore it doesn’t matter much but in several other constituencies where Indian voters are deciding factors MIC’s internal feud may cause serious damage to BN, MIC sources claimed.
