KUALA LUMPUR – Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has responded to Parti Makkal Sakti’s request for a senatorial position, urging party president Datuk Seri R.S. Thanenthiran to trust him with the decision.
This response comes after Thanenthiran openly requested Zahid’s consideration of the party’s desire for a senatorial seat at the Dewan Negara during his speech at Makkal Sakti’s 15th annual convention today.
“Datuk Seri (R.S. Thanenthiran), I am your senior, your ‘abang’ (older brother), so please leave the decision to me,” he said.
While speaking at the convention held at Menara Dato Onn, World Trade Centre, Zahid, who also serves as BN chairman and Umno president, appeared to choose his words carefully in the presence of delegates from other parties, including the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC).
“I do have a boss too (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim). However, I believe he has a soft spot for Makkal Sakti and other parties as well. I’ll strive to be equitable,” he added.
“As an older brother, I must be fair. There is high demand for the senatorial positions, but the slots are limited. Many individuals are interested. Let’s proceed thoughtfully.”
Prior to Zahid’s response, Thanenthiran expressed confidence that the deputy prime minister would take into account the party’s request for a senatorial position, emphasising that this would enable Makkal Sakti to support BN’s candidates in the upcoming general election.
“We were never given any position, we were never once given the chance to become a senator at the Dewan Negara, so the time has come.
“Give us a chance to become a senator this time so that we can assist BN Umno in helping the people, move forward, work hard and to help BN’s candidates, as well as to prepare ourselves for the coming 16th general election,” he said.
Earlier, Thanenthiran reiterated the party’s hope to be accepted as a component party under BN.
“We (Makkal Sakti) are still continuing our effort to become part of BN. We will remain loyal to Zahid Hamidi. We will not change our stance no matter what happens. Even though we are small, don’t think that we cannot give strength (to BN),” he said.
However, Zahid did not respond to this request directly, but said he appreciated the loyalty shown by Makkal Sakti and other BN-friendly parties under Friends of BN that have stayed loyal in supporting BN, despite the coalition’s defeats in the past two general elections.
He also said that MIC, which was established in 1946, is the oldest party in Malaysia, even older than Umno, adding that the three core parties under BN – Umno, MIC and MCA – will remain intact and strong together.
Other parties under Friends of BN are The Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma), Indian Progressive Front (IPF) and Parti Cinta Malaysia, Malaysian Indian United Party, Parti Kemajuan Malaysia, Parti Punjabi Malaysia and Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia.
Currently, only Umno, MIC, MCA, and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah are officially under BN.
However, Kimma president Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Kader recently said that the party will no longer submit applications to join BN after years of unsuccessful attempts. – September 10, 2023