MIPP to decide political direction after PN Supreme Council meeting

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) will only make a final decision on its political direction after the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Supreme Council meets, according to party secretary-general N Sathes Kumar.

Sathes said the party’s central committee, which met yesterday in Negeri Sembilan, discussed the national political landscape and “various forms of engagement with several political parties” in recent weeks.

“The central committee has given the MIPP president (P Punithan) a full mandate to continue any discussions, engagement, and political direction deemed appropriate in the interests of the party and the Indian community,” he said in a statement today.

Punithan previously said MIPP would only finalise its political direction after a central committee meeting.

PAS, Pakatan Harapan, and Barisan Nasional have all made overtures to MIPP amid the turmoil in PN after the Islamist party ended its political ties with Bersatu.

MIPP became PN’s first Indian-based component party in April 2024, with Punithan appointed as a PN deputy chairman. The party currently holds no parliamentary or state assembly seats.

Sathes also said that MIPP had identified four seats it intends to contest in Johor and three in Negeri Sembilan in the upcoming state elections.

“MIPP’s election machinery in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, and Melaka has been fully mobilised and is running grassroots outreach programmes,” he said.

Sathes said MIPP believed that political stability, national unity, and economic development must remain the priority of all parties.

“The party will continue to play a constructive role in advancing the interests of the Indian community and Malaysians in general.”