End game for MMSP?
K PragalathPublished: Jan 22, 2010 5:19 PM | Updated: Jan 22, 2010 6:42 PM
Although the Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) has just started its journey, observers however believe that it has reached the end of the road.
Although the Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) has just started its journey, observers however believe that it has reached the end of the road.
Two academics told Malaysiakini that the current leadership tussle in the party, which was launched last October, could have sounded the death knell with regards to MMSP’s aim of roping in the Indian votes.
Political scientist P Sivamurugan said while the Barisan Nasional-friendly MMSP did play a role in securing Indian votes in the Oct 11 Bagan Pinang by-election, the current internal crisis however will have an impact on the ruling coalition.
This is because the party claims to be aligned to BN and furthermore, it was launched by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself, he added.
The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) school of social sciences deputy dean also questioned the inability of MMSP leaders to resolve their problems.
"If they continue to sack, what will happen to the party?" he asked, referring to the 14 central committee members sacking the founding president RS Thanenthiran, and the latter’s counter sacking of the 'rebels'.
In the absence of any infighting, Sivamurugan said, MMSP could ride on the Hindraf wave to spread its influence among the Indian community.
Opportunity squandered
Meanwhile, Denison Jayasooria, a research fellow at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's (UKM) Institute of Ethnic Studies, said MMSP had squandered the opportunity to be an alternative.
"You can't even have 27 people (in the central committee) agreeing on an issue," he said.
Denison also felt that BN would face an uphill task with regards to winning back the support of the Indian community, who voted in large numbers for the opposition in the last elections.
"The Indian vote is no longer a block vote that BN can enjoy as in the 2004 general election," he said.
On the same note, he also believes that the community's support for Pakatan Rakyat is also witnessing a down slide.
Generally, Denison feels that the increase in Indian support for BN is due to Najib, and not the Indian-based component parties.
Two academics told Malaysiakini that the current leadership tussle in the party, which was launched last October, could have sounded the death knell with regards to MMSP’s aim of roping in the Indian votes.
Political scientist P Sivamurugan said while the Barisan Nasional-friendly MMSP did play a role in securing Indian votes in the Oct 11 Bagan Pinang by-election, the current internal crisis however will have an impact on the ruling coalition.This is because the party claims to be aligned to BN and furthermore, it was launched by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself, he added.
The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) school of social sciences deputy dean also questioned the inability of MMSP leaders to resolve their problems.
"If they continue to sack, what will happen to the party?" he asked, referring to the 14 central committee members sacking the founding president RS Thanenthiran, and the latter’s counter sacking of the 'rebels'.
In the absence of any infighting, Sivamurugan said, MMSP could ride on the Hindraf wave to spread its influence among the Indian community.
Opportunity squandered
Meanwhile, Denison Jayasooria, a research fellow at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's (UKM) Institute of Ethnic Studies, said MMSP had squandered the opportunity to be an alternative.
"You can't even have 27 people (in the central committee) agreeing on an issue," he said.Denison also felt that BN would face an uphill task with regards to winning back the support of the Indian community, who voted in large numbers for the opposition in the last elections.
"The Indian vote is no longer a block vote that BN can enjoy as in the 2004 general election," he said.
On the same note, he also believes that the community's support for Pakatan Rakyat is also witnessing a down slide.
Generally, Denison feels that the increase in Indian support for BN is due to Najib, and not the Indian-based component parties.
View Comments0