MIC stuck in political tug-of-war, likely to choose safest path

SHAH ALAM – MIC is now in one of the most vulnerable positions in its history, having lost its political footing after Barisan Nasional’s (BN) fall in 2018 and now grappling with a major dilemma over which coalition to align itself with next.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Associate Professor Dr Mazlan Ali said the party led by Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran was caught in an increasingly complex situation, largely because it appeared hesitant, even fearful, of committing to any new coalition, particularly with Perikatan Nasional (PN), despite signalling interest on several occasions.

"MIC has repeatedly suggested it is considering joining PN, but it has been nothing more than a game of push and pull.

"PN’s core narrative revolves around Malay-Muslim politics and its dominant party is Pas. If MIC joins a bloc with that narrative, it will struggle to secure relevance and Indian voters may not support MIC," he told Sinar.

Recently, MIC’s 79th Annual General Assembly postponed its decision on whether to remain in BN or exit the coalition.

Vigneswaran later confirmed that all three motions, including the proposal to leave BN had been accepted and handed to the Central Working Committee for further action.

Mazlan added that today’s political landscape has further diminished MIC’s space within BN, as the coalition was unlikely to regain the dominance it once enjoyed three decades ago.

Even without MIC, BN could still survive through its partnership with Pakatan Harapan (PH), which delivered non-Malay votes.

"As long as BN does not return to its former strength, MIC will remain a party with little real influence.

"MIC must evolve. Its old political culture is outdated. Indian voters are now split across DAP, PKR and various other parties. Many young Indian voters no longer see MIC as an option.

"If MIC fails to win back young Indian Malaysians, it will continue to be sidelined and dependent on other coalitions for survival," he said.

Meanwhile, sociopolitical analyst Datuk M. Periasamy shared a similar view, saying MIC was likely to choose a coalition that can preserve the party’s dignity and acknowledge its role.

However, he said joining PH was not a straightforward solution as PH already has its own established support structure.

"If MIC joins PH, the coalition already benefits from strong Chinese voter support via DAP and some backing among urban Malay voters.

"But the real question is: Would DAP be willing to transfer electoral support to MIC candidates in mixed constituencies?

"This is the strategic dilemma weighing heavily on MIC’s leadership as the next general election looms," he said.