Monday, November 26, 2007
New Indian-based party to back BN
Newly formed Indian-based party, the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP), today vowed to support the Barisan Nasional-led government, believing that by doing so, opportunity to elevate the social status of the Indian community would be better.
Party president KS Nallakarupan told his supporters at the party’s launching ceremony held at the Istana Hotel in Kuala Lumpur today that the fledgling MIUP does not want to go against BN policies.
“We believe that the party’s aim can still be achieved by working closely with the BN government,“
We as a party can inject a fresh approach to solving the problems of the Indian community,” he told 800 of his supporters.
The former PKR leader also said that the presence of MIUP, will be a “breath of fresh air which is
much needed to make quick changes for the betterment of the Indian community.”
Nallakaruppan was also quick to stress that there was no intention of discrediting the much-established Indian-based party MIC.
“We are also not saying that the present Indian-based party in the Barisan Nasional is not doing its job to help the community.
“I am sure that that party is doing whatever it can to help the community. But I think we can do better,” he added.
A secondary school
Nallakaruppan said that MIC should continue with their agenda and that the MIUP will also concentrate on its mission though the latter might have different approaches to issues.
“What’s wrong with being another race-based party? You have MCA and Gerakan (both Chinese-based party) and MIC and the Peoples Progressive Front (both Indian-based party) all in BN, why can't MIUP be in BN too?” he argued.
Elaborating on “fresh approaches”, Nallakaruppan said his party have outlined several social programmes as means to tackle the problems of the Indian community.
“We have introduced several programmes like sports, education and many youth-oriented programmes in order to inculcate productivity in the Indian community so they may integrate well with other races in this country,” he said.
He also said that his party would be first launching plans to establish an independent Tamil secondary soon.
When asked if MIUP will contest in the coming general election speculated to be somewhere early next year, Nallakaruppan said his party will not contest. 
“I want to concentrate on promoting my party only. Even if BN wants to give me seats to contest, I will not take it. I just want my party to be known first,” he said at a press conference held after the party’s launching ceremony.
‘Go through proper channel’
Nallakaruppan also refused to answer questions on the Hindraf rally which took place earlier today, saying that he wants to only focus on the party’s launch.
“This is a historical day in the history of the politics of Malaysia and an important day for me and my party. I don’t want to talk about the Hindraf rally.”
He however said that he personally felt that the Indian community should abide by the law and work within the proper channel if they wished to express any grievances.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Majlis Pelancaran Parti Bersatu India Malaysia (MIUP)
Tarikh : 25 . 11 . 2007
Masa : 2.30 PM
Tempat : Hotel Istana
Jalan Raja Chulan
"GRAND MAHKOTA BALLROOM"
Kuala Lumpur
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Ex-Anwar's buddy Nalla forms new Indian party
S Nallakarupan, who achieved fame as Anwar Ibrahim's former tennis partner, today announced that he has formed a new Indian political party.
Unveiling the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP) to some 100 people present at a press conference in his Kuala Lumpur residence this morning, Nallakarupan said that the party would cater for the Indian community in the country.
He explained that he received the inspiration of forming a new party to cater for Indian Malaysians after quitting PKR, of which he was a member for almost a year.
Nallakarupan quit PKR in May following his realization that the party has marginalized the Indian community.
"I had high hopes and enormous ambitions of being able to do my part to uplift the Indian community through PKR. However, after some time I realized that PKR was not the right platform," Nallakarupan said.
"In the past three to four months, after doing much thinking and getting feedbacks from my family, friends and supporters, I have formed this party," he said.
"The party was approved by the government on Sept 14. I will be the party president and I have identified a team of capable leaders who will help me run it," he said, adding that the primary aim of the party will be to 'bring up' the Indian community which is lagging in economic, political and social development.
'20,000 members in three months'
He also vowed to uplift the standard of living of rural Indians and to help socially problematic Indian youths like those involved in gansterism.
Nallakarupan said that MIUP has 100 members to date, and he will gather 3,000 to 4,000 members by next month. He also vowed to bring in at least 20,000 new members in three to four months time.
Asked if he will get the support of the Indian community, he replied in the affirmative. "They will definitely back me."
"If I could bring in 10,000 members into PKR after I joined the party, I would be able to do the same now," he said, adding that he will travel across the country after Hari Raya to recruit members.
He said MIUP is presently an independent party, but left the option to either join the Barisan Nasional or the opposition front open.
Nalla also explained that he has not thought about contesting in the coming general election "but may consider doing so if his supporters want him."
"It is not for me to decide. I need feedback from party supporters."
Queried on the need for another Indian party, Nallakarupan said: "We can have 10 Indian political parties. But I have formed this party to do my part for the community.
'Loyal to the country'
"This party will be loyal to the country. It will also be the voice for the Indians in this country," he said
Explaining the three colours (yellow, red and blue) in the party flag, Nallakarupan said: "Yellow symbolizes the sun that shines on the party's struggle to uphold the Indian community, red means bravery in the struggle and blue reflects the happiness and harmony in the community."
Former PKR Youth chief and Gerak chairperson Ezam Mohd Noor, who was also present at the press conference, said he was there to lend support to Nallakarupan as an "friend."
"I'm here as a NGO representative. I support any party, especially those with a clear objectives to fight graft in the country."
The official launching of the party will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre next month.
Unveiling the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP) to some 100 people present at a press conference in his Kuala Lumpur residence this morning, Nallakarupan said that the party would cater for the Indian community in the country.
He explained that he received the inspiration of forming a new party to cater for Indian Malaysians after quitting PKR, of which he was a member for almost a year.Nallakarupan quit PKR in May following his realization that the party has marginalized the Indian community.
"I had high hopes and enormous ambitions of being able to do my part to uplift the Indian community through PKR. However, after some time I realized that PKR was not the right platform," Nallakarupan said.
"In the past three to four months, after doing much thinking and getting feedbacks from my family, friends and supporters, I have formed this party," he said.
"The party was approved by the government on Sept 14. I will be the party president and I have identified a team of capable leaders who will help me run it," he said, adding that the primary aim of the party will be to 'bring up' the Indian community which is lagging in economic, political and social development.
'20,000 members in three months'
He also vowed to uplift the standard of living of rural Indians and to help socially problematic Indian youths like those involved in gansterism.
Nallakarupan said that MIUP has 100 members to date, and he will gather 3,000 to 4,000 members by next month. He also vowed to bring in at least 20,000 new members in three to four months time.
Asked if he will get the support of the Indian community, he replied in the affirmative. "They will definitely back me.""If I could bring in 10,000 members into PKR after I joined the party, I would be able to do the same now," he said, adding that he will travel across the country after Hari Raya to recruit members.
He said MIUP is presently an independent party, but left the option to either join the Barisan Nasional or the opposition front open.
Nalla also explained that he has not thought about contesting in the coming general election "but may consider doing so if his supporters want him."
"It is not for me to decide. I need feedback from party supporters."
Queried on the need for another Indian party, Nallakarupan said: "We can have 10 Indian political parties. But I have formed this party to do my part for the community.
'Loyal to the country'
"This party will be loyal to the country. It will also be the voice for the Indians in this country," he said
Explaining the three colours (yellow, red and blue) in the party flag, Nallakarupan said: "Yellow symbolizes the sun that shines on the party's struggle to uphold the Indian community, red means bravery in the struggle and blue reflects the happiness and harmony in the community."Former PKR Youth chief and Gerak chairperson Ezam Mohd Noor, who was also present at the press conference, said he was there to lend support to Nallakarupan as an "friend."
"I'm here as a NGO representative. I support any party, especially those with a clear objectives to fight graft in the country."
The official launching of the party will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre next month.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Friday, April 06, 2007
Nalla to enter political fary
He looks set to assume PKR post
Datuk K.S. Nallakarupan, whose main claim to fame was playing tennis with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, may soon make his debut in party politics.
The businessman who regards Anwar as “my good friend” looks set to become a vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) after securing the second highest number of nominations for the post.
 |
Raring to go: Nallakarupan, the businessman, signed up as a party member in August. |
He admitted that Anwar, who is PKR advisor, had asked him to join the party in 2004 but he had spent the last few years focusing on his business, travelling as well as making a pilgrimage to India.
He only signed up as a member last August.
Nallakarupan, 60, was a casualty in the chain of events set off by the sacking of the former deputy prime minister in 1998.
The then executive director of the betting company Magnum Corp spent a year in prison after being charged with possessing several rounds of ammunition with an expired weapons permit. He was acquitted in August 1999.
He was widely described as Anwar’s “tennis partner” and also had to endure insinuations that he had arranged Anwar’s extra-curricular activities.
“Don’t believe the rumours you have heard about us. Anwar played tennis with many people but I was the only unlucky partner who went to jail. I can forget my wedding anniversary but I can never forget July 31, 1998, the day I was arrested.”
He is reputed to be a compelling Tamil speaker and has been tasked to secure Indian support for PKR.
He is open to the idea of contesting in the general election but said he would leave it to the party leadership to decide.
The party polls, the second in its short history, is scheduled for May.
The tall and lanky politician who has a pronounced paunch looks anything but a tennis player these days. He said that was because he has long given up the game.
He has not picked up a tennis racquet since the day he was arrested.
Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he said: “Tennis is not good for my health.”
Nallakarupan has received 25 nominations whereas incumbent and cardiologist Dr Lee Boon Chye is leading the race for the three vice-president's posts with 58 nominations.
Nalla returns with a bang
After an 18-year hiatus, KS Nallakarupan has returned to politics to deliver ‘thunderstorms and earthquakes’.
The former MIC leader, who joined opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) last year, also vowed to bring in Indian members in droves.
Unabashedly, he declared that he brought in 10,000 Indians into the party since his entry six months ago and another 10,000 were eagerly waiting for the green light.
“PKR means Dato Nalla, PKR is Dato Nalla. That is the talk among the Indians,” he told malaysiakini during a recent interview.
The businessman is a close confidant of PKR advisor and former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim. The pair had played tennis together during rosier times.
In 1998, Nallakarupan became the first casualty in the struggle between Anwar and his estranged ex-boss, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Nallakaruppan was charged and jailed for a year for ‘illegal possession of bullets with an expired weapons permit’.
Following Anwar’s dismissal, Nallakarupan was accused of numerous other misdeeds, including having arranged the former deputy premier’s sexual liaisons.
However, this is an episode in his life which Nallakarupan did not wish to recollect.
“The past is past. I don’t want to go into that again,” he said when quizzed on his experience.
“My suffering in the Sungai Buloh prison and prior detention in (the federal police headquarters in) Bukit Aman are enough for me. I don’t want to dwell on that again.
“Don’t bring me to that episode in my life. Let me live a new life,” added the 60-year-old politician.
He also revealed that he has stopped playing tennis because the sport landed him in a lot of trouble.
“Nobody in the world ever got into political problems by playing tennis, but I did. For health reasons, also, I have decided not to play tennis (anymore),” he said.
Strong support
Returning to his role in PKR, Nallakarupan said he was confident of contributing to the party because there was strong support for him in the Indian community.
He also said that many of them were eager to join the party because they wanted change.
“They keep on coming, there’s no end to it. They keep on coming, they keep on calling me. The Indians this time are really going all out. The support for me is very good,” he said.
Nallakaruppan, who has received a high number of nominations to contest for vice-presidency in the coming party polls, said the Indian community always sought a leader in PKR and until his arrival, there was no such person.
“Without any position I can bring in people. If I become vice-president, imagine what can happen in the party. There will be thunderstorms and an earthquakes,” he stressed.
He was also not perturbed by the reservations and consternation expressed by certain quarters in PKR who feared that Nallakarupan will inject the ‘MIC culture’ into the opposition party.
He said PKR Youth vice-chief S Manikavasagam, who was one of those against his entry in the past, was now actively campaigning for his candidacy as vice-president.
As of the day of the interview (March 20), Nallakaruppan said 19 party divisions had nominated him. That puts him by far the most formidable challenger for one of the three vice-president posts in PKR.
He also pointed out that other races in the party also supported him as one of his first nominations came from the Malay-majority division of Sabak Bernam in Selangor.
“They understand. I’m in the party to help PKR and to help my friend Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.
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