MIC plans to pull out of Malaysian Government

Kuala Lumpur, Apr. 12 (ANI): The Malaysian Indian Congress may withdraw its lone cabinet minister and two deputy ministers from the central Government as a protest measure against ignorance of Indian community.

According to a senior party official, the proposal was drawn up at a meeting of top party officials on Friday.

"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. Even if we do withdraw our representatives, MIC will remain in Barisan but would concentrate on uniting the Indian community," The Star quoted the officer, as saying.

Reappointed Human Resources Minister S. Subramaniam is MIC's main representative in the Malaysian Cabinet, while two deputy ministers are M. Saravanan (Federal Territories Ministry) and S.K. Devamany (Prime Minister's Department).

"The proposal will be tabled in the party's central working committee meeting on Thursday where it is expected to be endorsed," an official source said.

He added that party members were unhappy that their request for a senior ministerial portfolio had not been accepted despite repeated appeals.

"MIC had requested for the Works Ministry portfolio - a post held by party president S. Samy Vellu until he lost the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in the last general election," he said.

The Human Resources Minister is considered to be a junior post in Malaysian Cabinet, and hence, the MIC was disappointed that other coalition parties were given better positions.

MIC Secretary-General Subramaniam, however, said he had not heard of such a move.

"Decisions on any matter concerning the party have always been discussed with the party president in the Central Working Committee. If there are differences within Barisan, it will be discussed behind closed doors and resolved amicably," he said. (ANI)