New but messy kid on the block

A new political party for working class Tamils – the Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party – is in peril in the wake of a power struggle by two rival factions.

IN a shocking development and less then 10 weeks after the grand Oct 10 launch of the Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, a bitter feud has broken out between the party’s two top leaders for control of the party.

Their feud has divided the incipient party into two groups that are going for the jugular, a development that would probably end the Barisan Nasional leaders’ hopes that the new party could win back the support of the Tamil masses.

A faction led by president R.S. Thanenthiran and another led by his deputy A. Vathemurthy are fighting for control of the party, with Vathemurthy, the former Perak Hindraf coordinator, accusing Thanenthiran of numerous failings and demanding his resignation on Wednesday.

Thanenthiran denied all the allegations and instead accused Vathemurthy of creating chaos and destroying the party at the behest of “outsiders” whom he did not name but is understood to be MIC leaders, including party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

Thanenthiran was the former Hindraf national co-ordinator and came into prominence after leading a Hindraf protest in the city in 2008.

Unlike some Hindraf founders who all remain implacably anti-Umno and Barisan, Thanenthiran argued that the Barisan was changing and beginning to give greater attention to long-standing problems faced by the Indians.

“We want to work with the Prime Minister (Najib) to address these issues. That’s why our party is working with and allied to Barisan,” Thanenthiran said in an earlier interview.

His team, including Vathemurthy and others thought along similar lines and were willing to work with Barisan despite their Hindraf background, provided Indian woes were addressed.

Their position was in sharp contrast with other Hindraf leaders who had joined Pakatan political parties and believed that Barisan was beyond redemption.

The new party had a tough time getting off because it was attacked for its pro-Barisan stance by other Hindraf leaders and the Pakatan leaders who all feared that MMSP would reclaim back Indian voter support for the Barisan.

Nevertheless, the party started to make an impact on the ground on the back of the numerous reforms that Najib was introducing under his 1Malaysia concept including direct aid for the Indian community.

Even the MIC, which was reforming and raising numerous issues that previously it had avoided, was worried the MMSP was a growing threat.

The new party while fighting political giants in the contest for the loyalty of the Tamil masses, had two distinct advantages – the name Makkal Sakthi, the Pakatan rallying cry in 2008, and the ears and endorsement of the Prime Minister himself.

Both were precious pillars that can be used to build a formidable political movement for working class Indians but the infighting in the MMSP has thrown a spanner in the works.

It also suffers another major setback – its key leaders are all political novice, inexperienced and unsure of how to negotiate the political landmines.

Vathemurthy told The Star his faction is unhappy with the “arrogant and autocratic” manner Thanenthiran was ruining the party.

“He has brought family, relatives and friends into the top leadership. He has sidelined the Hindraf leaders who fought on the streets and are close to the masses,” Vathemurthy said.

“We need a new leader and it can be anyone in the Hindraf movement who has the credentials,” he said, adding he himself does not aspire to be president.

Thanenthiran, denying all the charges, said a Central Committee (CC) meeting on Dec 16, will discuss the feud and take the appropriate action to resolve all matters.

In the end, the outcome of the feud will be decided by which faction has a majority among the 27 CC members. Both claim to have a majority.

After both side have expressed so much bitterness for each other, it is unlikely the Dec 16 showdown would produce a permanent and lasting solution to the leadership tussle.

Given these circumstances Najib and the Barisan might have to re-evaluate their options and start seeing the old war horses - MIC and PPP - as better bets then the MMSP, the new but messy kid on the block.

Although wounded, the MIC and PPP are increasingly more attractive to the Indian community who are put off by the constant squabbles and bickering among Pakatan leaders and the failure to deliver on election promises.But to win back support both political parties have to be led by a new and invigorating leadership and with a new agenda for change as its driving force.

This is because they have what the MMSP clearly does not - history, organisation and experience.

COMMENT
By BARADAN KUPPUSAMY
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/5/focus/5242577&sec=focus