Indian folk back to seek help, says Samy

POH: Many Indian voters in the country who abandoned the MIC during the March 8 general election are now turning back to the party, claims party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

He said “hundreds of people” had started thronging the party’s offices everyday, knowing that only the MIC could help them.

“In the last elections, about 50% of the Indian community rejected the MIC and supported the Opposition.

“But many want to return now,” he told reporters at a hotel here yesterday after opening a workshop on re-branding the party.

The Indian community, Samy Vellu said, has realised that it needed to have a close relationship with the Federal Government through the MIC in order to improve its livelihood.

“They admit to having been confused and in disarray, that they were influenced into voting for the Opposition but I tell them that it does not matter.

“When asked why they had come back looking for us, their answer was that the MIC has an administration, offices and an experienced leadership, and has continued looking after the people despite having lost in the elections.

“This is the reason why they are still interested in forging a relationship with the MIC,” he said.

Samy Vellu said response to the re-branding workshops nationwide was also encouraging, and urged grassroots leaders to discard their old mindset and “go back to thinking the people are our bosses”.

He admitted that the MIC had erred in not using the Internet and electronic media to reach out to the Indian community during the elections.

He also announced that the party would launch its own Internet portal in October.