Malaysia's Indian Progressive Front to remain loyal to Barisan Nasional

Kuala Lumpur, July 31 : The acting president of the Indian Progressive Front (IPF), Puan Sri Jayashree Pandithan has said that the IPF had no intention of joining Pakatan Rakyat, and that it would always be loyal to Barisan Nasional (BN) and the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Jayashree also said that the IPF would continue to perform the duties and responsibilities to the Indian community in the country.

"We will continue to support him as the leader of the nation and the leader of the ruling Barisan," staronline.com quoted her as saying in her maiden press conference at the IPF headquarters in Seri Kembangan last evening.

She took over the presidency of the 20-year-old party early this year from her ailing husband Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan who passed away on May 29.

"I have made visits to several states and the members are still intact with the leadership and have pledged their loyalty and support to the leadership. I am determined to focus on the eradication of poverty amongst Indians and creating an educated society besides focusing on the welfare and health issues of the poor," she added.

To a question, she said that IPF still maintains the objective of wanting to be a member of the Barisan, a vision of the late founding president Pandithan. "I believe MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu would not have any objections to our request to be admitted into the ruling coalition," she said.

ANI