Published May 20, 2009

Hindraf's splinter group forms new party

	Email this article
	Print article
	Feedback

(KUALA LUMPUR) A group of ethnic Indian activists announced yesterday the creation of a new political party to fight for racial equality for the minority in Malaysia.

The Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP), or Malaysia People's Power Party, appears to have the blessing of the authorities, since it is a breakaway group from an anti-government movement known as Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Party president R S Thanenthiran denied he was a proxy created by the governing coalition to neutralise Hindraf.

'We are neither pro-government nor opposition. We are independent,' he told reporters. 'We will work with any coalition or party which gives benefits to Indians at large.'

Mr Thanenthiran said his party 'would be able to function as a legal platform to continue the struggle'.

Still, the formation of MMSP indicates a split in Hindraf, seen by many as the most potent voice to have emerged among ethnic Indians who complain of discrimination by majority Malays in jobs, education and religion.

MMSP was registered by the government less than two months after its application, a surprisingly quick approval in a country where opposition parties are kept on a tight leash.

Another small opposition party had to wait for a decade before it was registered, a prerequisite for operating legally.

Mr Thanenthiran said his party's main objective is to fight for better schools for Indians, who comprise 8 per cent of Malaysia's 27 million people. -- AP