Indian support for MIC rises to 60 per cent, says Dr S Subramaniam

KUALA LUMPUR: The support of Indian community for the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) increased to 60 per cent as compared to the last general elections, a top party leader claimed today.

MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam said that the increase in support for MIC was shown in Sunday's polls.

"However, we could have done better but at the same time this shows that there is an increase in confidence towards the party," he said .

The party won four parliamentary seats against the three during the last polls, when a majority of ethnic Indians backed the opposition.

This elections saw the ethnic Chinese, who make up 29 per cent of the population, ditching the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and supporting the opposition DAP party.

Ethnic Chinese grouping Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a component of BN, president Dr Chua Soi Lek's re-affirmed that the party would not accept any government posts, following its dismal showing in the polls.

Subramaniam felt the MCA should reconsider its decision not to accept government posts.

"MIC is encouraging MCA to have representatives in the government so that there could be a balance between all races," he said.

Subramaniam said the absence of Chinese representatives in the government would deprive the Chinese community of a voice.

"If 28 per cent of the population (Chinese) is not represented, it would have far-reaching impacts. We would like to encourage the MCA to stay on but it is up to them to analyse the results and make a decision from there," Subramaniam said.