Latest news with #MalaysianIndianPeople'sParty
Malaysiakini
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Too many parties, too little direction
COMMENT | Our political scene is beginning to resemble a crowded marketplace, filled with competing slogans, overlapping identities, and leaders scrambling for attention rather than offering solutions. The latest voice to enter this noisy space is the Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP), a component within Perikatan Nasional, now publicly positioning itself as the gatekeeper for issues involving Indians. According to the MIPP's leadership, any potential cooperation with MIC must first be discussed with them. They claim to represent the Indian voice within PN and insist that no formal discussions have been held with MIC about joining the coalition. It is a confident stance, but one that prompts a serious question. Who is MIPP, and what have they contributed to national politics?
New Straits Times
26-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
MIPP, Gerakan lead Tamil, Mandarin chants at rally
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) and Gerakan presidents led anti-government chants in Tamil and Mandarin at Dataran Merdeka here to the amusement of protesters. MIPP president P. Punithan led the chants when he delivered a speech on stage, and Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau did the same when it was his turn to speak. The crowd of protesters tried to follow the chants. "Everyone can understand Mandarin, I see," Lau said jokingly. Punithan and Lau also said that today's rally was not about race or religion, but all Malaysians.
Malaysiakini
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Let 13th M'sia Plan deliver justice to Indian Malaysians
COMMENT | The Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) expresses deep disappointment and rising concern over the long-standing marginalisation of the Indian community. The community continues to be sidelined in national development despite decades of contributions to this country. As the government prepares to introduce the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), it is imperative to recognise that the Indian community has been consistently neglected in national policies. For decades, the needs and struggles of the Indian community have been systematically overlooked, and even dedicated efforts such as the Malaysian Indian Blueprint remain nothing more than a document without real action or implementation. Time and again, promises of inclusivity, equality, and shared prosperity have failed to translate into meaningful change for the Indian community, leaving many trapped in cycles of poverty, educational disadvantage, limited economic opportunities, and rising social challenges.
Focus Malaysia
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Ramasamy: Mandor system should not be blamed but those behind the system of subservience
THE Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) deputy president S. Subramaniam has suggested that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim heads the Indian Community Action Committee (ICAC) rather than appointing Indian mandor from PKR or the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led coalition. Editor's Note: On Monday (June 16), a source told Malaysiakini that Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan would be appointed chair of a newly formed committee to look into the interest of Malaysian Indians. The mandor system was used by British planters during the colonial period in which Indians mandor or supervisor were appointed to manage the labour affairs. The mandor might be a South Indian Tamil but he took instructions from the white managers in managing labour affairs in the plantations. Unlike the Chinese kepala who had the material interest of Chinese labour, the Indian mandor functioned on behalf of the plantation bosses. My book on plantation labour describes in detail that Chinese contract labourers earned higher wages than Indian labourers because the former who operated under the kepala system provided better material incentives than the mandor system. 'Blame non-Indians elites' The political relevance of the analogy of mandor system was first used by the HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force) leaders to describe and belittle Indian leaders who functioned on behalf of the Chinese and Malay leaders in DAP and PKR. The use of the mandor analogy is to show that Indian leaders in the PH-led coalition have no real power but are subservient to the non-Indian leaders. Subramaniam might be making a valid point by saying that Indian leaders in the government have no real power as it is being wielded by the Chinese and Malay leaders. However, I differ from Subramaniam on the point of Anwar himself heading the ICAC to channel financial benefits to the Indian community. While Subramaniam blames the Indian mandor, he has discounted the notion that the mandor phenomenon in the government is the consequence of the government adhering to the racist majoritarian policies. In other words, the Indian mandor is not the real problem but those non-Indian elite who manipulate the subservience of these leaders for their particular interests. Even if Indian leaders or mandor are not appointed, the result will be no different. It must be remembered that the crux of the problem is not the mandor system but those non-Indian leaders in power who make use of Indian leaders to camouflage the majoritarian racial and religious system for political expediency. Political camouflage Indian leaders or mandor are used by the non-Indian elite to impress upon the community of the existence of Indian representation. However, such a projection is nothing but a political farce. Unfortunately, this Indian representation in the form of Indian leaders playing second fiddle to non-Indian leaders does not augur well for the economic and political well-being of the Indian community. The pliant Indian leaders in the ruling coalition are a disgrace and humiliation to the Indian community that has immensely contributed to the nation in blood, sweat and tears. This is the reason why the Malaysian Rights Party (Urimai) makes it a point to chart an independent political course for the Indian community without being entrapped by the vicious mandor system that prioritises the interest of the elite of the majoritarian community at the expense of ordinary Indians and others in the country. At the core of the political struggle of Urimai is that Indians should be led by Indian leaders who are in a position to articulate the broader concerns of the community. Urimai definitely does not want to exchange one form of domination to another form. Urimai is open to coalition building but such an effort will be predicated on independence, integrity and dignity. It is not enough to decipher the vicious nature of the political system that has parallels with how plantation labour was controlled and exploited under the mandor system. The present Indian mandor leaders are no different from their earlier counterparts but serve different masters under different political circumstances. – June 20, 2025 Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Malaysiakini
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Indian 'mandors' not the real problem
COMMENT | The Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) deputy president S Subramaniam has suggested that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim head the Indian Community Action Committee (ICAC) rather than appointing Indian 'mandors' from PKR or the Pakatan Harapan-led coalition. The British planters used the 'mandor' system during the colonial period, in which Indian 'mandors' or supervisors were appointed to manage the labour affairs. The 'mandors' might be South Indian Tamil, but they took instructions from the white managers in managing labour affairs in the plantations. Unlike the Chinese 'kepala' who had the material interest of Chinese labour, the Indian 'mandors' functioned on behalf of the plantation bosses. My book on plantation labour describes in detail why...
