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{{Short description|Malaysian political party}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox political party
{{Infobox political party
| name = Malaysian Indian Congress
| name = Malaysian Indian Congress
| native_name =
| lang1 = Malay
| name_lang1 = {{lang|ms|Kongres India Se-Malaysia<br />كوڠݢريس اينديا سمليسيا}}
| lang2 = Chinese
| name_lang2 = {{lang|zh-hans|马来西亚印度国民大会}}<br />{{lang|zh-latn|Mǎláixīyà Yìndù Guómín Dàhuì}}
| lang3 = Tamil
| name_lang3 = {{lang|ta|மலேசிய இந்திய காங்கிரஸ்<br />Malēciya Intiya Kāṅkiras}}
| logo = Malaysian Indian Congress Logo.svg
| logo = Malaysian Indian Congress Logo.svg
| president = [[S. Vigneswaran M. Sanasee|Vigneswaran Sanasee]]
| president = [[Vigneswaran Sanasee]]
| secretary_general = Vell Paari
| secretary_general = Ananthan Somasundaram
| spokesperson = V. Gunalan
| spokesperson = Ramalingam Krishnamoorthy
| foundation = 4 August 1946
| foundation = 4 August 1946
| ideology = [[Nationalism]]<br />[[Social conservatism]]<br />[[Dravidian Movement]]<br />[[Self-Respect Movement]]<br />[[Indian nationalism]] {{small|(historical)}}<br />[[Gandhian socialism]] {{small|(historical)}}<br />[[Tamil nationalism]] {{small|(historical-Tun Sambathan Era)}}
| ideology = [[Malaysian Indian]] interests<br />[[Social conservatism]]<br />[[Dravidian movement]]
| headquarters = 6th floor, Menara Manicavasagam, No. 1, Jalan Rahmat, 50350 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| headquarters = 6th floor, Menara Manicavasagam, No. 1, Jalan Rahmat, 50350 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| international =
| international =
| country = Malaysia
| country = Malaysia
| abbreviation = MIC / ம.இ.கா
| native_name = Kongres India Se-Malaysia<br />மலேசிய இந்திய காங்கிரஸ்
| abbreviation = MIC
| founder = [[John Thivy]]
| founder = [[John Thivy]]
| leader1_title = Deputy President
| leader1_title = Deputy President
| leader1_name = [[Saravanan Murugan]]
| leader1_name = [[Saravanan Murugan]]
| leader2_title = Vice-President
| leader2_title = Vice-President
| leader2_name = T. Mohan<br />[[Sivarraajh Chandran]]<br />T. Murugiah
| leader2_name = [[Asojan Muniyandy]] <br /> Murugiah Thopasamy <br /> Nelson Renganathan <br /> [[Vell Paari Samy Vellu]] <br /> Ramasamy Muthusamy <br />
| leader3_title = Youth Leader
| leader3_title = Youth Leader
| leader3_name = Arvind Krishnan<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/06/09/arvind-wins-mic-youth-chief-post-uncontested/ |title=Arvind wins MIC Youth chief's post uncontested |date=9 June 2024}}</ref>
| leader3_name = Thinalan T Rajagopalu
| leader4_title = Woman Leader
| leader4_title = Woman Leader
| leader4_name = Saraswathy Nallathamby<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/05/johor-mic-leader-declares-candidacy-for-wanita-chief039s-post |title=Johor MIC leader declares candidacy for Wanita chief's post}}</ref>
| leader4_name = Ushananthini
| leader5_title = Putera Leader<br />Puteri Leader
| leader5_title = Putera Leader<br />Puteri Leader
| leader5_name = Shatesh Kumar<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/06/14/dr-shatesh-wins-putera-mic-chief-post |title=Dr Shatesh wins Putera MIC chief post}}</ref>
| leader5_name = Uvaraja Maniam<br />Gunasundari
<br />Teeba Solaimalai
| predecessor = Malayan Indian Congress
| predecessor = Malayan Indian Congress
| slogan =
| slogan =
| newspaper = MIC Times<br />[[Tamil Nesan]]
| newspaper = MIC Times<br />Tamil Malar<br />[[Makkal Osai]]
| youth_wing = MIC Youth Movement
| youth_wing = MIC Youth Movement
| womens_wing = MIC Women's Movement
| womens_wing = MIC Women Movement
| wing1_title = Men's youth wing
| wing1_title = Putera Wing
| wing1 = MIC Putera Movement
| wing1 = MIC Putera Movement
| wing2_title = Women's youth wing
| wing2_title = Puteri Wing
| wing2 = MIC Puteri Movement
| wing2 = MIC Puteri Movement
| membership_year =
| membership_year =
| membership =
| membership =
| national = [[All-Malaya Council of Joint Action]] {{small|(1948–1953)}}<br />[[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance]] {{small|(1954–1973)}}<br />[[Barisan Nasional]] {{small|(since 1973)}}
| position = [[Right-wing politics|Right-wing]]
| colours = {{Color box|{{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}|border=darkgray}} Green and white
| national = [[All-Malaya Council of Joint Action]] (1948–1953)<br />[[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance]] (1954–73)<br />[[Barisan Nasional]] (1973–present)
| colours = {{Color box|{{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}|border=darkgray}} Green and white
| colorcode = {{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/shading}}
| colorcode = {{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/shading}}
| anthem =
| flag = File:Malaysian Indian Congress Flag.svg
| symbol = [[File:Barisan Nasional Logo.svg|150px]]
| flag = [[File:Malaysian Indian Congress Flag.svg|150px]]
| seats1_title = [[Dewan Negara]]:
| seats1_title = [[Dewan Negara]]:
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|3|70|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|3|70|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
| seats2_title = [[Dewan Rakyat]]:
| seats2_title = [[Dewan Rakyat]]:
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|2|222|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|1|222|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
| seats3_title = [[Dewan Undangan Negeri]]:
| seats3_title = [[Dewan Undangan Negeri]]:
| seats3 = {{Composition bar|3|587|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
| seats3 = {{Composition bar|5|611|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.mic.org.my/}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.mic.org.my/}}
| symbol =
| anthem = ''Saathanai Namathu Kaiyile''
}}
}}


The '''Malaysian Indian Congress''' ('''MIC'''; {{lang-ta|மலேசிய இந்திய காங்கிரஸ்}}; formerly known as '''Malayan Indian Congress''') is a [[Malaysia]]n political party and is one of the founding members of [[Barisan Nasional]], previously known as the Alliance, that was in power from when the country achieved independence in 1957 until the recent 2018 elections. The party was among the first to fight for Malayan Independence and one of the oldest parties in Malaysia.
The '''Malaysian Indian Congress''' ([[Abbreviation|abbrev]]: '''MIC'''; {{langx|ms|Kongres India Se-Malaysia}})，formerly known as '''Malayan Indian Congress''', is a [[Malaysia]]n political party. It is one of the founding members of the coalition [[Barisan Nasional]], previously known as the [[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance]], which was in power from when the country achieved independence in 1957 until the elections in 2018. The party was among the first to fight for [[Independence of Malaysia|Malayan Independence]] and is one of the oldest parties in Malaysia.


The MIC was established in August 1946, and has ceased to exist at the end of [[World War II]], to fight for [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]] from [[British Raj|British colonial rule]]. After [[India]] gained its independence, MIC involved itself in the struggle for the independence of [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] (now [[Malaysia]]) which was achieved in 1957. It positioned itself for representation on behalf of the [[India]]n community in the post-war development of the country. The MIC joined the National Alliance comprising the [[United Malays National Organisation]] (UMNO) and the [[Malaysian Chinese Association]] (MCA) in 1954 which became the [[Barisan Nasional]] in 1973 with further expansion in the number of component parties.
The MIC was established in August 1946 to advocate for [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]] from [[British Raj|British colonial rule]]. After [[India]] gained its independence, MIC turned its focus to the struggle for the independence of [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] (now [[Malaysia]]), which was achieved in 1957. It positioned itself to represent the [[Malaysian Indians|Indian community in Malaya]] in the post-[[World War II]] development of the country. The MIC, the [[United Malays National Organisation]] and the [[Malaysian Chinese Association]] formed the National Alliance in 1954. The National Alliance incorporated additional parties and became the [[Barisan Nasional]] in 1973.


The party was once the largest party representing the [[Malaysian Indian|Indian]] community, but has performed poorly in elections since 2008, with the Indian community mostly voting for the opposition.
The MIC was once the largest party representing the [[Malaysian Indian|Indian]] community,{{Explain|date=October 2022|reason=Which party is the largest now?}} but has performed poorly in elections since 2008, losing out to [[Pakatan Harapan]], which also represents majority of the Indian community.

In 2024, MIC expressed its support to a Unity Government led by Prime Minister [[Datuk Seri]] [[Anwar Ibrahim]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bernama |date=22 October 2023 |title=Kemaman by-election : MIC will help campaign for candidate from unity govt coalition {{!}} New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/10/970220/kemaman-election-mic-will-help-campaign-candidate-unity-govt-coalition |access-date=3 October 2024 |website=NST Online |language=en}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
[[File:Headquarters of MIC.JPG|thumb|MIC Headquarter]]
[[File:Headquarters of MIC.JPG|thumb|MIC Headquarters]]
The Malaysian Indian Congress is one of the oldest political party established in Malaysia. The party founded in year 1946 by [[John Thivy|John A.Thivy]].
At first the party was established to fight for [[Indian independence movement|Indian independence]].
After India gained independence, the party change its ideology in the course of the continuing struggle of the inter-war tears, to end British Colonial rule, as well as in the need for representation on behalf of Indian community in the post war development of the country.


=== John Thivy era:Indian Nationalist ===
=== John Thivy and Indian nationalism ===
John Thivy met [[Mahatma Gandhi]] at [[London]] while studying for law. He was inspired by Gandhi's ideology and determined for fight for Indian independence. He was actively involved in the Indian nationalist movement when he returned to Malaya.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com.my/books?id=1j_qCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA212&lpg=PA212&dq=MIC+under+John+Thivy&source=bl&ots=TinaJhXIkG&sig=jG9yPOxM2ZxxOFWgpK7QrvVhPbY&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=MIC%20under%20John%20Thivy&f=false |title=From People’s War to People’s Rule: Insurgency, Intervention, and the Lessons of Vietnam|editor= Timothy J. Lomperis |page=217 |publisher=Univ of North Carolina Press |year= 2000 |isbn=9789971693916 }}</ref> He founded the Malaya Indian Congress (MIC only officially became known as Malaysian Indian Congress, after the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963) in August 1946. The word 'Congress' in the name of Malaysian Indian Congress is taken from the [[Indian National Congress]], the party that Mahatma Gandhi led to fight for Indian independence.
John Thivy, the founder of the MIC, met [[Mahatma Gandhi]] at [[London]] while studying law. He was inspired by [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhi]]'s ideology and Nehru's vision and became determined to fight for Indian independence. He became actively involved in the Indian nationalist movement and returned to Malaya.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1j_qCQAAQBAJ&q=MIC+under+John+Thivy&pg=PA212 |title=From People's War to People's Rule: Insurgency, Intervention, and the Lessons of Vietnam |editor=Timothy J. Lomperis |page=217 |publisher=Univ of North Carolina Press |year=2000 |isbn=9789971693916}}</ref> He founded the Malaya Indian Congress (renamed Malaysian Indian Congress after the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963) in August 1946, and was party president until 1947. The word 'Congress' in the party's name refers to the [[Indian National Congress]], the party Mahatma Gandhi led to fight for Indian independence.


=== Baba Budh Singh Ji, Ramanathan, and opposition to the Malayan Union ===
After India gained independence in 1947, Malaysian Indian Congress changed its ideology and started to fight for Malaysian Independence.<ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com.my/books?id=HphXHA4_sYQC&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=MIC+under+John+Thivy&source=bl&ots=qu8FGMNo-V&sig=6b0U_D3nInoNAq6v9qELZCLK8r4&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=MIC%20under%20John%20Thivy&f=false |title=Cage of Freedom: Tamil Identity and the Ethnic Fetish in Malaysia|editor= Andrew C. Willford |page=26 |publisher=NUS Paper |year= 2007 |isbn=9789971693916 }}</ref> John Thivy remained as party president for 1946 to 1947.
After India gained independence in 1947, the MIC changed its focus and started to fight for the independence of Malaya.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HphXHA4_sYQC&q=MIC+under+John+Thivy&pg=PA26 |title=Cage of Freedom: Tamil Identity and the Ethnic Fetish in Malaysia |publisher=NUS Paper |year=2007 |isbn=9789971693916 |editor=Andrew C. Willford |page=26}}</ref> Baba Budh Singh Ji became president of MIC in 1947. After World War II, the British had established the [[Malayan Union]], unifying the Malay Peninsula under a single government to simplify administration. Although a majority of the Indian community supported the Malayan Union, the MIC did not.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mic.org.my/about/history/ |title=History – MIC |publisher=Malaysian Indian Congress}}</ref> The Malayan Union was dissolved in 1948 after widespread Malay protests and replaced with the [[Federation of Malaya]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Malayan Union controversy 1942–1948 |last=Lau |first=Albert |date=1991 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0-19-588964-9 |location=Singapore |oclc=22117633}}</ref> The MIC later joined the [[All-Malaya Council of Joint Action]] under [[Malay titles|Tun]] [[Tan Cheng Lock]] in opposition to the Federation of Malaya Agreement.


K. Ramanathan became president in 1950. By this time, the MIC was the leading party representing Indians in Malaya.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rajagopal |first1=Shanthiah |last2=Fernando |first2=Joseph Milton |date=27 April 2018 |title=The Malayan Indian Congress and Early Political Rivalry among Indian Organisations in Malaya, 1946–1950 |journal=Kajian Malaysia |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=25–42 |doi=10.21315/km2018.36.1.2 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Ramanathan advocated for the relaxation of the language proficiency test as a prerequisite for citizenship for Indians, and urged Indians to obtain federal citizenship.<ref name="Kailasam 2015">{{Cite journal |last=Kailasam |first=A. |date=1 January 2015 |title=Political expediencies and the process of identity construction: The quest for indian identity in Malaysia |url=http://web.usm.my/km/33(1)2015/km33012015_01.pdf |journal=Kajian Malaysia |volume=33 |pages=1–18}}</ref>
=== Baba Budh Singh Ji and Ramanathan Era: Fight against Malayan Union and the Federation of Malaya ===
Baba Budh Singh Ji became the 2nd president of MIC. During this time, the sentimental of the party take the path of anti-colonialism. Although majority of Indian support Malayan Union, MIC take the principle not to support Malayan Union.<ref>http://www.mic.org.my/about-us/history</ref> The Malayan union were withdraw on 1948 and replaced with Federation of Malaya. The MIC later joined the All Malaya Council for Joint Action (AMCJA) under [[Malay titles|Tun]] [[Tan Cheng Lock]] in opposition to the less liberal Federation of Malaya Agreement of 1948.


=== K.L. Devaser and a focus on Malayan independence ===
Third President Mr. K.Ramanathan, realising the ineffectiveness and futility of non-co-operation with the Government when the other major communities represented by UMNO and MCA cooperated, the MIC contested in 1952 Kuala Lumpur Municipal Elections in alliance with the IMP under Dato' Onn bin Jaafar and other non-communal organisations. However the 1952 elections proved the MIC's attempt to preach and practise non-communalism would not prevail in Malayan politics when communalism was the winning factor.
The MIC's fourth President, [[K. L. Devaser|Kundan Lal Devaser]], served from 1951 to 1955. It was during his period that MIC started to focus on the fight for Malayan independence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://malaysianindian1.blogspot.my/2008/02/mic-hidden-history.html |title=MIC – The Hidden History |website=malaysianindian1.blogspot.my}}</ref>


Under Devaser, the MIC contested the [[1952 Malayan local elections|1952 Kuala Lumpur Municipal Elections]] in alliance with the [[Independence of Malaya Party]], [[Dato Onn Bin Ja'afar|Dato' Onn bin Jaafar]] and other non-communal organisations. The election ended with a failure for MIC as their coalition was defeated by the [[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]]. The defeat showed MIC that it stood a better chance of gaining influence by joining the Alliance. In 1954 the MIC joined the [[United Malays National Organisation]] and the [[Malaysian Chinese Association|Malayan Chinese Association]] in the Alliance, securing a place for Indians in the administration.<ref name="Kailasam 2015" /> The party's broader membership was less enthusiastic than the MIC leadership about joining the Alliance but were willing to support the move if the party could secure concessions from the Alliance on inter-communal issues, particularly on education.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Indian minority and political change in Malaya, 1945–1957 |last=Brown |first=Rajeswary Ampalavanar |date=1981 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0-19-580473-2 |location=Kuala Lumpur |oclc=8080662}}</ref>
=== K.L. Devaser Era : Joining Alliance Party and focusing on Malayan Independence ===
In 1954 the MIC under its fourth President Mr. K. L. Devaser (1951-1955) became the third partner in the Alliance with UMNO and MCA.And It was during his period that MIC started focusing on the fight for Malayan independence.<ref>http://malaysianindian1.blogspot.my/2008/02/mic-hidden-history.html</ref>


Devaser was primarily popular among the urban-based Indian elite, and lacked wider grassroots support. For the first eight years, MIC leaders were either of North Indian or Malayalee origin, a minority among Malayan Indians. The majority of Indians in Malaya at that time were Tamils, most of whom were labourers in plantations. Indian plantation workers experienced enforced segregation because of plantation compound housing. The plantation labour system also worked against the integration of Indian workers into society and perpetuated racial and occupational differentiation. Plantation workers were unable to acquire the skills required to move to better-paying jobs.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}
At first, MIC under K.L Devaser contested in the 1952 Kuala Lumpur Municipal Elections in partnership with the [[Independence of Malaya Party]] under Dato’ Onn bin Jaafar.The election ended with a failure for MIC as their coalition was thrashed by the [[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]]. The defeat showed MIC that it stood a better chance by joining the ‘Alliance’ as it was the most workable and effective form of political technique in the Malayan context. Thus, in 1954, MIC became the third member of the [[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]].


Migrant plantation workers were both marginalised and polarised in Malaya. Their wages were tied to rubber prices, falling when the rubber price fell, and were about 50c per day. Devaser came under heavy criticism from the Tamil media for not addressing the pressing issues facing the community. Some in the party felt that there was a need for a leader with a stronger relationship with the party's grassroots. In March 1955, the local daily ''Tamil Murasu'' urged Tamils to boycott the MIC.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=/2007/7/16/focus/18293824&sec=focus |title=Archives |website=The Star |access-date=13 July 2022 |archive-date=14 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614011132/https://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2007%2F7%2F16%2Ffocus%2F18293824&sec=focus |url-status=dead}}</ref> This was followed by a call for change in MIC's leadership, led by Tamil MIC leaders, and Devaser stepped down.<ref name="Kailasam 2015" /> The MIC then faced the challenge of reconciling the political aspirations of the middle class with the needs of the working class, who at the time comprised 84% of the plantation workforce.
According to Rajeswary Ampalavanar, author of ''The Indian Minority and Political Change in Malaya 1954-1957'', the MIC leadership was quite eager to join the Alliance but there was some resistance within the party’s broader membership. They were willing to support the move if the party could secure some concessions from the Alliance on inter-communal issues, particularly on education. From its inception up to this period, the Indian community has been divided.


=== V. T Sambanthan and becoming a Tamil party ===
While K.L. Devaser was quite outspoken, his influence was largely among the urban-based Indian elite, and he lacked wider grassroots support. For the first eight years, the MIC leaders were either of North Indian or Malayalee origin, representing a minority among the Malayan Indians. The majority of Indians (90%) in Malaya at that time were Tamils, mainly the labourers in plantations. Indian plantation workers, the main group of wageworkers in Malaya at the time, experienced enforced segregation because of plantation compound housing. The plantation labour system also worked against the integration of Indian workers into society at large and perpetuated racial and occupational differentiation. For one thing, they were unable to acquire skills that would facilitate their move to betterpaying jobs elsewhere. Migrant plantation workers were therefore marginalised and polarised in Malaya. Their wages in the post World War II era, which were around 50 cents a day, were tied to rubber prices, falling when the rubber price fell, but never rising when prices rose. K.L. Devaser came under heavy criticism from the Tamil media for not addressing the pressing issues facing the community. Some in the party felt that there was a need for a leader with a stronger relationship with the party’s grassroots. In March 1955, reports in the local daily ''Tamil Murasu'' urged Tamils to boycott the MIC.<ref>http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2007%2F7%2F16%2Ffocus%2F18293824&sec=focus</ref> Even in 1955, the Indians clamoured for a change in MIC’s leadership and a change did take place because the president recognised that he had overstayed his welcome and gave way for change.The MIC's main challenge then, was to reconcile the political aspirations of the middle class with the needs of the labour class, who then comprised 84% of the plantation workforce.
In May 1955, [[V. T. Sambanthan|Tun V. T. Sambanthan]] was elected as the fifth President of the Malayan Indian Congress. Sambanthan started a recruitment campaign among plantation workers, relying on the patronage of Hinduism in its popular South Indian form, increased use of the Tamil language, and encouraging Tamil cultural activities. He personally toured plantations and encouraged Tamils to join the MIC.<ref name="Kailasam 2015" /> This led to a fragmentation of the Indian community, with traditionalists and the lower middle class becoming prominent in the party while upper-class professionals and the intelligentsia moved away from it. Two paths to leadership emerged in the Indian community, via politics or via trade union activism, with very little interaction between them.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}


Under Sambanthan's leadership, the MIC effectively became a Tamil party. Sambanthan served as president of the MIC until 1971 and was largely responsible for the transformation of the party to a conservative and traditionalist party emphasising Indian culture, religion and language.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}} It was the weakest of the three main political parties, with the smallest electorate (7.4% in 1959) and had little support from the Indian community at large.
=== Sambanthan Era: Becoming Tamil Party ===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:VTSambanthan.jpg|thumb|Tun V.T. Sambanthan was one of the signatories of the MERDEKA Agreement. He can be rightly called one of the founding fathers of the nation.]] -->
At the Ninth Annual MIC Conference that was held in Teluk Anson (Teluk Intan), Perak in May 1955, Tun V.T. Sambanthan was elected as the fifth President of the Malayan Indian Congress. The MIC's main challenge was to reconcile the political aspirations of the middle class with the poverty and needs of the labouring class, who in 1938 comprised 84% of the plantation labour force. Sambanthan started a recruitment campaign among plantation workers, relying on patronage of Hinduism in its popular South Indian form, increased use and fostering of the Tamil language, and Tamil cultural activities.


The Indian community was geographically dispersed and divided and comprised less than 25% of the population in any constituency. The MIC's overriding concern was therefore to remain a partner in the Alliance and obtain whatever concessions it could from the dominant UMNO. This led the MIC to compromise on priorities such as the political and economic rights of workers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Koh |first1=Sin Yee |editor1-last=Christou |editor1-first=A. |editor2-last=Mavroudi |editor2-first=E. |title=Dismantling Diasporas: Rethinking the Geographies of Diasporic Identity, Connection and Development |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-14958-3 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YbS1CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT133 |language=en |chapter=Unpacking 'Malaysia' and 'Malaysian Citizenship': Perspectives of Malaysian-Chinese Skilled Diasporas}}</ref>
But the MIC under Sambanthan failed to reconcile the needs of labour with the political aspirations of the middle class. The traditionalists and the lower middle class strengthened their hold within the party, while the upper-class professionals and the intelligentsia moved away from it. Subsequently, two paths to leadership emerged among the Indians – political and trade union – with very little interaction between them.


Sambanthan sold approximately half of his father's 2.4&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> rubber estate and donated part of the money to the MIC. He was not uniformly popular but was able to gradually unite a party that had significant internal divides. During his presidency, in 1957, Malaysian independence was achieved. Sambanathan was involved in the negotiations with the British government's [[Reid Commission]] to draw up the new Malayan constitution. In 1963 [[Singapore]], [[Sabah]] and [[Sarawak]] merged with the Federation of Malaya to form the [[Malaysia|Federation of Malaysia]], and the MIC renamed itself the Malaysian Indian Congress.
Under Sambanthan's leadership, the MIC effectively became a Tamil party. Sambanthan served as president of the MIC from 1955–71 and was largely responsible for the transformation of the party from an active, political organisation to a conservative, traditional one, emphasising Indian culture, religion and language.


Sambanathan was forced to retire in favour of [[V. Manickavasagam]] in 1973 after a rebellion by five MIC leaders including [[Samy Vellu]].
It was also the weakest of the three main political parties. It had the smallest electorate – 7.4% in 1959; and it had little support from the Indian community at large.


=== Manickavasagam and non-political ventures ===
Since the Indian community was geographically dispersed and divided, it comprised less than 25% in any constituency. Therefore, the MIC's over-riding concern was to remain a partner in the Alliance (the UMNO-MCA-MIC Alliance that had won the first elections in 1955, and that was subsequently renamed Barisan Nasional) and obtain whatever concessions it could from the dominant UMNO. In the process, political and economic rights of workers were sacrificed.
Manickavasagam served as president of MIC from 1973 to 1978. During this period, Malaysia's [[Malaysian New Economic Policy|New Economic Policy]] was being developed, and the MIC convened two economic conferences in an unsuccessful effort to advocate for the interests of Indians.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Anbalakan |first=K. |date=1 January 2003 |title=The NEP and Further Marginalization of the Indians |url=http://web.usm.my/km/KM%2021,2003/21-16.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804174839/http://web.usm.my/km/KM%2021,2003/21-16.pdf |archive-date=4 August 2016 |url-status=live |journal=Kajian Malaysia |volume=21 |pages=379–398}}</ref>


It was during this period that the MIC, as member of the Alliance, became part of the [[Barisan Nasional]]. The party sponsored the Nesa Multipurpose Cooperative and the MIC Unit Trust as part of its programme for economic ventures. It also set up the MIC Education Fund for members' children and the Malaysian Indian Scholarship Fund for higher education as well as acquiring an Institute for training Indians in technical and trade skills.
Sambanthan, while as MIC president, helped strengthen the party economically by selling about half of his father's 2.4&nbsp;km² rubber estate to help the Indian community as well as to provide financial strength to the party coffers.


Manickavasagam appointed several new representatives to leadership positions, including [[Subramaniam Sathasivam]], Datuk K. Pathmanaban, a Harvard MBA holder, and several others. They were young, well-educated and ambitious but lacked grassroots experience. Subramaniam was hand-picked by Manickavasagam to become deputy president and succeed him, but the party elected [[Samy Vellu]] as Deputy President instead, by a narrow margin of 26 votes.
Sambanthan took over the mantle of the MIC during a period of turmoil in the party in 1955, barely months before the first federal elections, and over time strengthened the party and consolidated its position in the coalition. He did not always please his members but was able to gradually unite a party that had considerable internal splits.


=== Samy Vellu and emphasis on education ===
=== Manickavasagam Era: Infusing new blood and Blue Book ===
Samy Vellu became MIC president in 1979 and served until 2010. Under his leadership, in 1984, the MIC founded the Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED) to offer educational opportunities and financial support to Indian students in Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mied.com.my/?page_id=1069 |title=Corporate Profile – Maju Institute Of Educational Development. |language=en-US |access-date=14 November 2019}}</ref> Since its establishment, more than 10,000 students have obtained loans and scholarships totaling about RM60&nbsp;million MIED fund as of 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mied |url=http://www.mied.com.my/index.php |access-date=2 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716224251/http://www.mied.com.my/index.php |archive-date=16 July 2013}}</ref> In 2001, the MIC and MIED launched an [[AIMST University]] with the stated goal of helping Indians acquire professional training. Vellu was the founding chancellor of the university. By 2018, the university had achieved a score of 4 on the Malaysian Higher Education Institution's 5-point rating scale.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/11/24/varsity-to-keep-chasing-excellence-aimst-striving-for-score-of-five-to-achieve-excellent-university |title=Varsity to keep chasing excellence |last=SEE |first=BERNARD |date=24 November 2018 |website=The Star Online |language=en |access-date=14 November 2019}}</ref> However, AIMST's commitment to training Indian students has been questioned.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.themalaysiantimes.com.my/mic-turns-70-but-aimst-intake-of-indian-students-shocking/ |title=MIC turns 70, but AIMST intake of Indian students 'shocking' |date=2 August 2016 |website=The Malaysian Times |language=en-US |access-date=14 November 2019}}</ref>
Manickavasagam became president of MIC as a result of increased resistance of the grassroot members to Tun V.T. Sambanthan's style of leadership. As president of the party for 18 years, some felt Sambanthan had overstayed his welcome and wanted change.


Vellu was succeeded by [[G. Palanivel]] who served from 2010 to 2014. Subramaniam was then elected, initially in an acting role, serving from 2014 to 2018. {{As of|2019||df=}}, the party is led by [[Vigneswaran Sanasee]].
Under Manickavasagam's leadership, the MIC was put on a strong footing with buildings, offices and staff in various parts of the country and the party system organised and its capacity to deal with issues enhanced.


{{col-begin}}
It was during this period that the MIC, as member of the Alliance, became part of the [[Barisan Nasional]]. The party sponsored the Nesa Multipurpose Cooperative and the MIC Unit Trust as part of its programme for economic ventures, and also set up the MIC Education Fund for members' children and the Malaysian Indian Scholarship Fund for higher education as well as acquiring an Institute for training Indians in technical and trade skills. Manickavasagam had a vision for the Malaysian Indian community. He organised the First Indian Economic Seminar and as a result the Blue Book came about. It was a development plan for the economic growth of the Indian community.The Blue Book was an orchestrated effort of a think-tank of top Indian business, political and education leaders collaborating to augment the future of the Malaysian Indian community. Maika Holdings and Maju Institute of Education and Development (MIED) and others are a direct result of the Blue Book.

When Manickavasagam became president of the Malaysian Indian Congress, he decided to introduce new faces to the party in leadership positions. This was the time when Datuk S. Subramaniam, Datuk K. Pathmanaban, a Harvard MBA holder, and several others entered the political arena to infuse new blood into MIC, and Manickavasagam gave them preference. They were young, well-educated and ambitious but lacked grassroots experience.

This made Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who was then MIC vice-president, bitter as he felt he was being sidelined. Samy Vellu was one of the five leaders who dared defy former president Tun V.T. Sambanthan and propel Manickavasagam to the presidency of the party. Subramaniam, then the secretary general of MIC, was hand-picked by Manickavasagam to become deputy president and succeed him. However, Samy Vellu fought back, literally, and in the 1977 party elections he managed to beat Subramaniam by a mere 26 votes to become the Deputy President of MIC.

== Party achievement ==
=== Education welfare ===
More than 10,000 students have obtained loans and scholarships totalling about RM60mil in the past 20 years from the Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED) fund, the education arm the MIC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mied.com.my/index.php |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2 April 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716224251/http://www.mied.com.my/index.php |archivedate=16 July 2013 |df= }}</ref>
[[File:Aimstarealview.JPG|thumb|AIMST University]]
The party sponsored the Nesa Multipurpose Cooperative and the MIC Unit Trust as part of its programme for economic ventures, and also set up the MIC Education Fund for members’ children and the Malaysian Indian Scholarship for higher education.<ref>http://www.mic.org.my/about-us/history</ref>

=== Private university project ===
The [[AIMST University|Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University]] (AIMST) is the major ongoing project by MIC. It has already commenced operations and is offering a range of science and technology-based programmes including Medicine. It was founded on 15 March 2001, by the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED), the educational arm of the MIC. Owned by Sammy Vellu Family.


== Central Working Committee ==
== Central Working Committee ==
{{col-2}}
* '''President:''' [[S. Vigneswaran M. Sanasee|Vigneswaran Sanasee]]
* '''President:''' [[S. Vigneswaran M. Sanasee|Vigneswaran Sanasee]]
* '''Deputy President:''' [[Saravanan Murugan]]
* '''Deputy President:''' [[Saravanan Murugan]]
* '''Secretary-General:''' Vell Paari
* '''1st Vice-president:''' T. Mohan
* '''1st Vice-President:''' T. Mohan
* '''2nd Vice-president:''' T. Murugiah
* '''2nd Vice-President:''' [[Sivarraajh Chandran]]
* '''3rd Vice-president:''' M. Asojan
* '''3rd Vice-President:''' T. Murugiah
* '''4th Vice-president:''' Vell Paari
* '''Youth Leader:''' Subramaniam Balakrishnan
* '''5th Vice-president:''' Kohilan Pillay Appu
* '''Women Leader:''' Ushananthini
* '''Secretary-General:''' R. T. Rajasekaran
* '''Putera Leader:''' Uvaraja Maniam
* '''Treasurer-General:''' Tan Sri Ramasamy
* '''Puteri Leader:''' Gunasundari
* '''Information Chief:''' R.Thinalan
{{col-2}}
* '''Treasurer-General:''' M.S. Amrit Kaur
* '''Information Chief:''' V. Gunalan
* '''Executive Secretary:''' T.Kumaressan
* '''Youth Leader:''' Raven Kumar Krishnasamy
'''30 Central Working Committee Members:'''
* '''Deputy Youth Leader:''' Andrew David
* '''Women Leader:''' Mohana Muniandy Raman
* '''Deputy Women Leader:''' Vickneswary Babuji
* '''Putera Leader:''' Dr. A. Kishva
* '''Deputy Putera Leader:''' Dr. Shatesh Kumar Sangar
* '''Puteri Leader:''' R. Shaliny
* '''Deputy Puteri Leader:''' S. Teeba
{{col-end}}
'''44 Central Working Committee members:'''
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
# M. Veeran
# Sakthivel Alagappan
# K. Subramaniam
# [[P. Kamalanathan]]
# M. Asojan
# D. Tharma Kumaran
# K.R. Parthiban
# K. Balasundaram
# S. Ananthan
# P. Kamalanathan
# K. Parthiban
# D. Vincent
# S. Tamilvanan
# S. Suppayah
# M. Mathuraiveran
# M. Mathuraiveran
# V. Elango
# S. Marathamuthu
# L. Manikam
# N. Maneanay
# R. Goonasakaren
# T. Novalan
# G. Kannan
# G. Sivah
# R. Subramaniam
# M. Karuppanan
# M. Nyana Segaran
# K. Sathasivam
# J. Dhinagaran
# R. Supramaniam
# S. Kannan
# R. Rajandran
# K. Ravinkumar
# TH Subra @ Subramaniam
# K. Thangaraj
# N. Muneandy
# G. Daljit Singh
# V. Nagaiah
# G. Raman
# G. Raman
# R. Nadarajan
# M. Rajandran
# V.S. Mogan
# S. Ananthan
# S. Marathamuthu
# V. Arumugam
# J. Dhinagaran
# James Kalimuthu
# S. Rajah
# Vickneswary Babuji
# Dr. Thanaletchumy
# V. Elango
# S. Sivakumaran
# R. Vidyananthan
# S. Tamilvanan
# L. Manickam
# N.R. Krishnan
# A. Mangleswaran
# S. Renugopal
# V. P. Shanmugam
# Peer Mohamad Bin Kadir
# C. Sivaraajh
# K. Ramalingam
# S. Murugavelu
# A. Sakthivel
# N. Sivakumar
# Siva Subramaniam
# R. Balasubramaniam
# A. Krishnaveny
# R. Inbavally
# K. Arvind
# K. Kesavan
# N. Saraswati
# R. Nelson
}}
}}
<small>Source:<ref name="Central Working Committee">{{cite web |url=https://www.mic.org.my/mic-leadership/central-working-committee/ |title=Central Working Committee |work=Malaysian Indian Congress}}</ref></small>

* '''State chairmen:'''
== Elected representatives ==
** Perlis: S. Ilanckoh
=== Dewan Negara (Senate) ===
** Kedah: S. Ananthan
==== Senators ====
** Kelantan: S. Renugopal
{{main|Members of the Dewan Negara, 14th Malaysian Parliament}}
** Terengganu: V. Mangeleswaran
# Ananthan Somasundaram – appointed by the [[Kedah State Legislative Assembly]]
** Penang: J. Dhinagaran
# Mohan Tangarasu – appointed by the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]]
** Perak: V. Elango
# [[Vigneswaran Sanasee]] – appointed by the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]]
** Pahang: V. Arumugam

** Selangor: M. B. Rajah
=== Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) ===
** Federal Territories: S. Rajah
==== Members of Parliament of the 14th Malaysian Parliament ====
** Negeri Sembilan: V.S. Mogan
{{main|Members of the Dewan Rakyat, 14th Malaysian Parliament}}
** Malacca: V.P. Shanmugam
MIC currently has only 1 MP in the [[Dewan Rakyat|House of Representatives]].
** Johor: R. Vidyananthan
{| class ="wikitable sortable"
** Sabah: Peer Mohamad Kadir
|-
<small>Source:<ref name="Central Working Committee" /></small>
! style="width:100px;"| State
! style="width:30px;"| No.
! style="width:150px;"|Parliament Constituency
! style="width:240px;"|Member
! style="width:80px;" colspan=2|Party
|-
| {{Flag|Perak}} || P072 || [[Tapah (federal constituency)|Tapah]] || [[Saravanan Murugan|M. Saravanan Murugan]] || bgcolor="{{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/shading}}"| ||MIC
|-

| Total || style="width:30px;" colspan=6| {{small|'''[[Perak]]''' (1), '''[[Pahang]]''' (1)}}
|}

=== Dewan Undangan Negeri (State Legislative Assembly) ===
==== Malaysian State Assembly Representatives ====
{{main|List of Malaysian State Assembly Representatives (2018–)}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-4}}
[[Johor State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|2|56|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
[[Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|1|36|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
[[Perlis State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|15|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
[[Kedah State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|36|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
{{col-4}}
[[Kelantan State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|45|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
[[Terengganu State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|32|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
[[Penang State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|40|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
{{col-4}}
[[Perak State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|59|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
[[Pahang State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|42|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
[[Selangor State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|56|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
{{col-4}}
[[Melaka State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|28|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
[[Sabah State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|60|hex={{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
[[Sarawak State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|82|hex{{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/color}}}}
{{col-end}}

== State election results ==
<div style="width: 100%; height:30em; overflow:auto; border: 2px solid #088">

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|-
!rowspan=2| State election !!colspan=14|State Legislative Assembly
|-
! [[Perlis State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Kedah State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Kelantan State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Terengganu State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Penang State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Perak State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Pahang State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Selangor State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Malacca State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Johor State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Sabah State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Sarawak State Legislative Assembly]] !! Total won / Total contested
|-
! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!
|-
|2/3 majority||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||
|-
|2016|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||{{Composition bar|0|82|hex=29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|82|hex=29AB87}}<!--Under BN flag, now GPS-->
|-
|2018||{{Composition bar|0|15|hex=29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|36|hex=}}||{{Composition bar|0|45|hex=29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|32|hex=29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|40|hex=29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|59|hex=29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|42|hex=29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|56|hex=29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|1|36|hex=29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|28|hex=29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|2|56|hex=29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|60|hex=29AB87}}|| ||{{Composition bar|3|505|hex=29AB87}}
|}
</div>


== List of party leaders ==
== List of party leaders ==


=== President of Malayan Indian Congress ===
=== Presidents of the Malayan Indian Congress (1946–1963) ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!Order
! Order
! Name<ref name="Past Presidents of MIC">{{cite web |url=http://www.mic.org.my/about/past-presidents-of-mic/ |title=Past Presidents of MIC – MIC}}</ref>
!Portrait
! colspan="2" | Term of office
!Name<ref>[http://www.mic.org.my/past-presidents-of-mic/ Past Presidents of MIC]</ref>
! Notes
!colspan="2"|Term of office
!Elected
|-
|-
! 1
! 1
| '''[[John Thivy]]'''
|
| 4 August 1946
| '''[[John Thivy|John Aloysius Thivy]]'''
| August 1946
| 1947
| 1947
|
|
|-
|-
! 2
! 2
|
| '''[[Baba Budh Singh Ji]]'''
| '''[[Baba Budh Singh Ji]]'''
| 1947
| 1947
Line 260: Line 222:
|-
|-
! 3
! 3
| '''K. Ramanathan Chettiar'''
|
| '''[[K. Ramanathan Chettiar]]'''
| 1950
| 1950
| 1951
| 1952
|
|
|-
|-
! 4
! 4
|
| '''[[Kundan Lal Devaser]]'''
| '''[[Kundan Lal Devaser]]'''
| 1951
| 1952
| May 1955
| May 1955
|
|
|-
|-
! 5
! 5
| '''[[V. T. Sambanthan]]'''
|
| '''[[V. T. Sambanthan|Thirunyanasambanthan Veerasamy]]'''
| May 1955
| May 1955
| 1 September 1963
| 16 September 1963
|
|
|}
|}


=== President of Malaysian Indian Congress ===
=== Presidents of the Malaysian Indian Congress (1963–present) ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!Order
! Order
! Name<ref name="Past Presidents of MIC" />
!Portrait
! colspan="2" | Term of office
!Name<ref>[http://www.mic.org.my/past-presidents-of-mic/ Past Presidents of MIC]</ref>
!colspan="2"|Term of office
! Time in office
! Notes
!Elected
|-
|-
! 5
! 5
| '''[[V. T. Sambanthan]]'''
|
| 16 September 1963
| '''[[V. T. Sambanthan|Thirunyanasambanthan Veerasamy]]'''
| 1 September 1963
| 30 June 1973
| 30 June 1973
| {{age in years and days|1963|9|16|1973|6|30}}
|
|
|-
|-
! rowspan=2| 6
! 6
| '''[[V. Manickavasagam]]'''
| rowspan=2|
| rowspan=2| '''[[V. Manickavasagam|V. Manickavasagam Pillai]]'''
| 30 June 1973
| 30 June 1973
| 1977
|
|-
| 1977
| 12 October 1978
| 12 October 1978
| {{age in years and days|1973|6|30|1978|10|12}}
|
|
|-
|-
! 7
! 7
|
| '''[[Samy Vellu]]'''
| '''[[Samy Vellu]]'''
| 12 October 1979
| 12 October 1979
| 6 December 2010
| 6 December 2010
| {{age in years and days|1979|10|12|2010|12|6}}
|
|
|-
|-
! 8
! 8
|
| '''[[Palanivel Govindasamy]]'''
| '''[[Palanivel Govindasamy]]'''
| 6 December 2010
| 6 December 2010
| 25 June 2014
| 23 June 2013
| {{age in years and days|2010|12|6|2013|6|23}}
|
|
|-
|-
! –
! –
| ''[[Subramaniam Sathasivam]]''
|
| ''23 June 2013''
| [[Subramaniam Sathasivam]]
| 25 June 2014
| ''25 June 2015''
| ''{{age in years and days|2013|6|23|2015|6|25}}''
| 25 June 2015
| ''Acting President''
| acting
|-
|-
! 9
! 9
|
| '''[[Subramaniam Sathasivam]]'''
| '''[[Subramaniam Sathasivam]]'''
| 25 June 2015
| 25 June 2015
| 15 July 2018
| 15 July 2018
| {{age in years and days|2015|6|25|2018|7|15}}
|
|
|-
|-
! 10
! 10
|
| '''[[Vigneswaran Sanasee]]'''
| '''[[Vigneswaran Sanasee]]'''
| 15 July 2018
| 15 July 2018
| ''Incumbent''
|
| {{age in years and days|2018|7|15}}
|
|
|}

== Elected representatives ==

=== Dewan Negara (Senate) ===

==== Senators ====
{{Main|Members of the Dewan Negara, 15th Malaysian Parliament}}
# [[Vell Paari Samy Vellu]] – appointed by the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]]
# Tan Sri [[Mohamed Haniffa Abdullah]] – appointed by the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]]
# [[Sivarraajh Chandran]] – appointed by the [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong]]

=== Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) ===

==== Members of Parliament of the 15th Malaysian Parliament ====
{{Main|Members of the Dewan Rakyat, 15th Malaysian Parliament}}
{{As of|2019||df=}}, MIC has only 1 MP in the [[Dewan Rakyat|House of Representatives]].
{| class ="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:100px;" | State
! style="width:30px;" | No.
! style="width:150px;" | Parliament Constituency
! style="width:240px;" | Member
! style="width:80px;" colspan=2 | Party
|-
| {{Flag|Perak}} || P072 || [[Tapah (federal constituency)|Tapah]] || [[Saravanan Murugan]] || bgcolor="{{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/shading}}"| ||MIC
|-
| Total || style="width:30px;" colspan=6 | {{small|'''[[Perak]]''' (1)}}
|}

=== Dewan Undangan Negeri (State Legislative Assembly) ===

==== Malaysian State Assembly Representatives ====
{{Main|List of Malaysian State Assembly Representatives (2018–)}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-4}}
[[Johor State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|3|56|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
[[Malacca State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|1|28|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
[[Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|36|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
[[Perlis State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|15|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
{{col-4}}
[[Kedah State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|36|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
[[Kelantan State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|45|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
[[Terengganu State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|33|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
{{col-4}}
[[Penang State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|40|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
[[Perak State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|59|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
[[Pahang State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|1|47|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
{{col-4}}
[[Selangor State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|56|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
[[Sabah State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|73|hex={{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
[[Sarawak State Legislative Assembly]]{{Composition bar|0|82|hex{{party color|Malaysian Indian Congress}}}}
{{col-end}}

{| class ="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:100px;" | State
! No.
! Federal Constituency
! style="width:30px;" | No.
! style="width:150px;" | State Constituency
! style="width:240px;" | Member
! style="width:80px;" colspan=2 | Party
|-
| {{Flag|Pahang}}
| P089
| Bentong|| N35 || [[Sabai (state constituency)|Sabai]] || V Arumugam || bgcolor="{{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/shading}}"| ||MIC
|-
| {{Flag|Malacca}}
| P135
| Alor Gajah|| N7 || [[Gadek (state constituency)|Gadek]] ||Shanmugam Ptcyhay || bgcolor="{{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/shading}}"| ||MIC
|-
| rowspan=3 | {{Flag|Johor}}
| P141
| Sekijang|| N4 || [[Kemelah (state constituency)|Kemelah]] ||Saraswathy Nallathanby || bgcolor="{{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/shading}}"| ||MIC
|-
| P153
| Sembrong|| N31 || [[Kahang (state constituency)|Kahang]] || [[Vidyananthan Ramanadhan]] || bgcolor="{{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/shading}}"| ||MIC
|-
| P154
| Mersing
| N33 || [[Tenggaroh (state constituency)|Tenggaroh]] || Raven Kumar Krishnasamy || bgcolor="{{Malaysian Indian Congress/meta/shading}}"| ||MIC
|-
| Total
| colspan="7" | {{small|'''[[Pahang]]''' (1), '''[[Malacca]]''' (1), '''[[Johor]]''' (3)}}
|}
|}


Line 349: Line 389:
! Election
! Election
! Total seats won
! Total seats won
! Seats contested
! Total votes
! Total votes
! Share of votes
! Share of votes
Line 354: Line 395:
! Election leader
! Election leader
|-
|-
![[Malayan general election, 1955|1955]]
! [[1955 Malayan general election|1955]]
| {{Composition bar|2|52|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|2|52|hex=#29AB87}}
| 2
| 26,868
| 26,868
| 2.68%
| 2.68%
| {{increase}}2 seats; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]])}}
| {{increase}}2 seats; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]])}}
| [[V. T. Sambanthan]]
| [[V. T. Sambanthan]]
|-
|-
![[Malayan general election, 1959|1959]]
! [[1959 Malayan general election|1959]]
| {{Composition bar|3|104|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|3|104|hex=#29AB87}}
| 3
| 15,711
| 15,711
| 1.02%
| 1.02%
| {{increase}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]])}}
| {{increase}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]])}}
| [[V. T. Sambanthan]]
| [[V. T. Sambanthan]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 1964|1964]]
! [[1964 Malaysian general election|1964]]
| {{Composition bar|3|104|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|3|104|hex=#29AB87}}
| 3
| 19,269
| 19,269
| 1.60%
| 1.60%
| {{steady}}; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]])}}
| {{steady}}; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]])}}
| [[V. T. Sambanthan]]
| [[V. T. Sambanthan]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 1969|1969]]
! [[1969 Malaysian general election|1969]]
| {{Composition bar|2|144|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|2|144|hex=#29AB87}}
| 3
|
|
|
|
| {{decrease}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]])}}
| {{decrease}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]])}}
| [[V. T. Sambanthan]]
| [[V. T. Sambanthan]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 1974|1974]]
! [[1974 Malaysian general election|1974]]
| {{Composition bar|4|144|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|4|144|hex=#29AB87}}
| 5
|
|
|
|
| {{increase}}2 seats; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| {{increase}}2 seats; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[V. Manickavasagam]]
| [[V. Manickavasagam]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 1978|1978]]
! [[1978 Malaysian general election|1978]]
| {{Composition bar|3|154|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|3|154|hex=#29AB87}}
| 5
|
|
|
|
| {{decrease}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| {{decrease}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[V. Manickavasagam]]
| [[V. Manickavasagam]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 1982|1982]]
! [[1982 Malaysian general election|1982]]
| {{Composition bar|4|154|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|4|154|hex=#29AB87}}
| 5
|
|
|
|
| {{increase}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| {{increase}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[Samy Vellu]]
| [[Samy Vellu]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 1986|1986]]
! [[1986 Malaysian general election|1986]]
| {{Composition bar|6|177|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|6|177|hex=#29AB87}}
| 7
| 104,701
| 104,701
| 2.21%
| 2.21%
| {{increase}}2 seats; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| {{increase}}2 seats; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[Samy Vellu]]
| [[Samy Vellu]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 1990|1990]]
! [[1990 Malaysian general election|1990]]
| {{Composition bar|6|180|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|6|180|hex=#29AB87}}
| 7
|
|
|
|
| {{steady}}; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| {{steady}}; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[Samy Vellu]]
| [[Samy Vellu]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 1995|1995]]
! [[1995 Malaysian general election|1995]]
| {{Composition bar|7|192|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|7|192|hex=#29AB87}}
|
|
|
|
|
| {{increase}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| {{increase}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[Samy Vellu]]
| [[Samy Vellu]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 1999|1999]]
! [[1999 Malaysian general election|1999]]
| {{Composition bar|7|193|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|7|193|hex=#29AB87}}
|
|
|
|
|
| {{steady}}; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| {{steady}}; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[Samy Vellu]]
| [[Samy Vellu]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 2004|2004]]
! [[2004 Malaysian general election|2004]]
| {{Composition bar|9|219|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|9|219|hex=#29AB87}}
|
| 221,546
| 221,546
| 3.2%
| 3.2%
| {{increase}}2 seats; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| {{increase}}2 seats; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[Samy Vellu]]
| [[Samy Vellu]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 2008|2008]]
! [[2008 Malaysian general election|2008]]
| {{Composition bar|3|222|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|3|222|hex=#29AB87}}
| 9
| 179,422
| 179,422
| 2.21%
| 2.21%
| {{decrease}}6 seats; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| {{decrease}}6 seats; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[Samy Vellu]]
| [[Samy Vellu]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 2013|2013]]
! [[2013 Malaysian general election|2013]]
| {{Composition bar|4|222|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|4|222|hex=#29AB87}}
| 9
| 286,629
| 286,629
| 2.59%
| 2.59%
| {{increase}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| {{increase}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[Palanivel Govindasamy]]
| [[Palanivel Govindasamy]]
|-
|-
![[Malaysian general election, 2018|2018]]
! [[2018 Malaysian general election|2018]]
| {{Composition bar|2|222|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|2|222|hex=#29AB87}}
| 9
| 167,061
| 167,061
| 1.39%
| 1.39%
| {{decrease}}2 seats; '''Opposition''' {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| {{decrease}}2 seats; '''Opposition coalition''', <br /> later '''Governing coalition''' <br />{{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[Subramaniam Sathasivam|S. Subramaniam]]
| [[Subramaniam Sathasivam|S. Subramaniam]]
|-
! [[2022 Malaysian general election|2022]]
| {{Composition bar|1|222|hex=#29AB87}}
| 10
| 172,176
| 1.11%
| {{decrease}}1 seat; '''Governing coalition''' <br /> {{small|([[Barisan Nasional]])}}
| [[Vigneswaran Sanasee]]
|}
|}


== State election results ==

<div style="width: 100%; overflow:auto; border: 2px solid #088">

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|-
! rowspan=2 | State election !!colspan=14 | State Legislative Assembly
|-
! [[Perlis State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Kedah State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Kelantan State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Terengganu State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Penang State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Perak State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Pahang State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Selangor State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Malacca State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Johor State Legislative Assembly]] !! [[Sabah State Legislative Assembly]] !! Total won / Total contested
|-
! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!
|-
| 2/3 majority||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||{{Composition bar|2|3|hex=#dcdcdc}}||
|-
| 2013|| ||{{Composition bar|0|36|hex=#29AB87}}|| || ||{{Composition bar|0|40|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|59|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|42|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|56|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|1|36|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|1|28|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|3|56|hex=#29AB87}}|| ||{{Composition bar|5|18|hex=#29AB87}}
|-
| 2018|| ||{{Composition bar|0|36|hex=#29AB87}}|| || ||{{Composition bar|0|40|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|59|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|42|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|56|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|1|36|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|0|28|hex=#29AB87}}||{{Composition bar|2|56|hex=#29AB87}}|| ||{{Composition bar|3|18|hex=#29AB87}}
|-
| [[2021 Malacca state election|2021]]|| || || || || || || || || || {{Composition bar|1|28|hex=#29AB87}} || || ||{{Composition bar|1|1|hex=#29AB87}}
|-
| [[2022 Johor state election|2022]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| {{Composition bar|3|56|hex=#29AB87}}
|
| {{Composition bar|3|4|hex=#29AB87}}
|-
| 2022
| {{Composition bar|0|15|hex=#29AB87}}
|
|
|
|
| {{Composition bar|0|59|hex=#29AB87}}
| {{Composition bar|1|42|hex=#29AB87}}
|
|
|
|
|
| {{Composition bar|1|4|hex=#29AB87}}
|}
</div>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Politics of Malaysia]]
* [[List of political parties in Malaysia]]
* [[List of political parties in Malaysia]]
* [[Politics of Malaysia]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
<references />
* Goh, Cheng Teik (1994). ''Malaysia: Beyond Communal Politics''. Pelanduk Publications. {{ISBN|967-978-475-4}}.
* Goh, Cheng Teik (1994). ''Malaysia: Beyond Communal Politics''. Pelanduk Publications. {{ISBN|967-978-475-4}}.
* Pillai, M.G.G. (3 November 2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20070616184702/http://www.malaysia-today.net/columns/pillai/2005/11/national-front-parties-were-not-formed.htm "National Front parties were not formed to fight for Malaysian independence"]. ''Malaysia Today''.
* Pillai, M.G.G. (3 November 2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20070616184702/http://www.malaysia-today.net/columns/pillai/2005/11/national-front-parties-were-not-formed.htm "National Front parties were not formed to fight for Malaysian independence"]. ''Malaysia Today''.
Line 474: Line 585:


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{commons category|Malaysian Indian Congress}}
{{Commons category|Malaysian Indian Congress}}
* {{official|http://www.mic.org.my/}}
* {{official website|http://www.mic.org.my/}}
* {{facebook|OnlineMIC}}


{{Barisan Nasional}}
{{Barisan Nasional}}
{{Dravidian politics}}
{{Malaysian political parties}}
{{Malaysian political parties}}
{{Portal bar|Malaysia|Politics}}
{{Dravidian politics-hor}}


{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Political parties of minorities]]
[[Category:Indian-Malaysian culture]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in British Malaya]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in British Malaya]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1946]]
[[Category:Ethnic political parties]]
[[Category:Defunct political parties in Singapore]]
[[Category:Defunct political parties in Singapore]]
[[Category:Dravidian political parties]]
[[Category:Identity politics]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress breakaway groups]]
[[Category:Indian-Malaysian culture]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1946]]
[[Category:Political parties in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Political parties of minorities in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Political parties of minorities in Singapore]]
[[Category:Political parties of the Indian diaspora]]

Latest revision as of 07:47, 10 December 2024

Malaysian Indian Congress
Malay nameKongres India Se-Malaysia
كوڠݢريس اينديا سمليسيا
Chinese name马来西亚印度国民大会
Mǎláixīyà Yìndù Guómín Dàhuì
Tamil nameமலேசிய இந்திய காங்கிரஸ்
Malēciya Intiya Kāṅkiras
AbbreviationMIC / ம.இ.கா
PresidentVigneswaran Sanasee
Secretary-GeneralAnanthan Somasundaram
SpokespersonRamalingam Krishnamoorthy
Deputy PresidentSaravanan Murugan
Vice-PresidentAsojan Muniyandy
Murugiah Thopasamy
Nelson Renganathan
Vell Paari Samy Vellu
Ramasamy Muthusamy
Youth LeaderArvind Krishnan[1]
Woman LeaderSaraswathy Nallathamby[2]
Putera Leader
Puteri Leader		Shatesh Kumar[3]
Teeba Solaimalai
FounderJohn Thivy
Founded4 August 1946
Preceded byMalayan Indian Congress
Headquarters6th floor, Menara Manicavasagam, No. 1, Jalan Rahmat, 50350 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
NewspaperMIC Times
Tamil Malar
Makkal Osai
Youth wingMIC Youth Movement
Women's wingMIC Women Movement
Putera WingMIC Putera Movement
Puteri WingMIC Puteri Movement
IdeologyMalaysian Indian interests
Social conservatism
Dravidian movement
National affiliationAll-Malaya Council of Joint Action (1948–1953)
Alliance (1954–1973)
Barisan Nasional (since 1973)
Colours  Green and white
AnthemSaathanai Namathu Kaiyile
Dewan Negara:
3 / 70
Dewan Rakyat:
1 / 222
Dewan Undangan Negeri:
5 / 611
Party flag
Website
www.mic.org.my

The Malaysian Indian Congress (abbrev: MIC; Malay: Kongres India Se-Malaysia)，formerly known as Malayan Indian Congress, is a Malaysian political party. It is one of the founding members of the coalition Barisan Nasional, previously known as the Alliance, which was in power from when the country achieved independence in 1957 until the elections in 2018. The party was among the first to fight for Malayan Independence and is one of the oldest parties in Malaysia.

The MIC was established in August 1946 to advocate for Indian independence from British colonial rule. After India gained its independence, MIC turned its focus to the struggle for the independence of Malaya (now Malaysia), which was achieved in 1957. It positioned itself to represent the Indian community in Malaya in the post-World War II development of the country. The MIC, the United Malays National Organisation and the Malaysian Chinese Association formed the National Alliance in 1954. The National Alliance incorporated additional parties and became the Barisan Nasional in 1973.

The MIC was once the largest party representing the Indian community,[further explanation needed] but has performed poorly in elections since 2008, losing out to Pakatan Harapan, which also represents majority of the Indian community.

In 2024, MIC expressed its support to a Unity Government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.[4]

History

[edit]
MIC Headquarters

John Thivy and Indian nationalism

[edit]

John Thivy, the founder of the MIC, met Mahatma Gandhi at London while studying law. He was inspired by Gandhi's ideology and Nehru's vision and became determined to fight for Indian independence. He became actively involved in the Indian nationalist movement and returned to Malaya.[5] He founded the Malaya Indian Congress (renamed Malaysian Indian Congress after the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963) in August 1946, and was party president until 1947. The word 'Congress' in the party's name refers to the Indian National Congress, the party Mahatma Gandhi led to fight for Indian independence.

Baba Budh Singh Ji, Ramanathan, and opposition to the Malayan Union

[edit]

After India gained independence in 1947, the MIC changed its focus and started to fight for the independence of Malaya.[6] Baba Budh Singh Ji became president of MIC in 1947. After World War II, the British had established the Malayan Union, unifying the Malay Peninsula under a single government to simplify administration. Although a majority of the Indian community supported the Malayan Union, the MIC did not.[7] The Malayan Union was dissolved in 1948 after widespread Malay protests and replaced with the Federation of Malaya.[8] The MIC later joined the All-Malaya Council of Joint Action under Tun Tan Cheng Lock in opposition to the Federation of Malaya Agreement.

K. Ramanathan became president in 1950. By this time, the MIC was the leading party representing Indians in Malaya.[9] Ramanathan advocated for the relaxation of the language proficiency test as a prerequisite for citizenship for Indians, and urged Indians to obtain federal citizenship.[10]

K.L. Devaser and a focus on Malayan independence

[edit]

The MIC's fourth President, Kundan Lal Devaser, served from 1951 to 1955. It was during his period that MIC started to focus on the fight for Malayan independence.[11]

Under Devaser, the MIC contested the 1952 Kuala Lumpur Municipal Elections in alliance with the Independence of Malaya Party, Dato' Onn bin Jaafar and other non-communal organisations. The election ended with a failure for MIC as their coalition was defeated by the Alliance Party. The defeat showed MIC that it stood a better chance of gaining influence by joining the Alliance. In 1954 the MIC joined the United Malays National Organisation and the Malayan Chinese Association in the Alliance, securing a place for Indians in the administration.[10] The party's broader membership was less enthusiastic than the MIC leadership about joining the Alliance but were willing to support the move if the party could secure concessions from the Alliance on inter-communal issues, particularly on education.[12]

Devaser was primarily popular among the urban-based Indian elite, and lacked wider grassroots support. For the first eight years, MIC leaders were either of North Indian or Malayalee origin, a minority among Malayan Indians. The majority of Indians in Malaya at that time were Tamils, most of whom were labourers in plantations. Indian plantation workers experienced enforced segregation because of plantation compound housing. The plantation labour system also worked against the integration of Indian workers into society and perpetuated racial and occupational differentiation. Plantation workers were unable to acquire the skills required to move to better-paying jobs.[citation needed]

Migrant plantation workers were both marginalised and polarised in Malaya. Their wages were tied to rubber prices, falling when the rubber price fell, and were about 50c per day. Devaser came under heavy criticism from the Tamil media for not addressing the pressing issues facing the community. Some in the party felt that there was a need for a leader with a stronger relationship with the party's grassroots. In March 1955, the local daily Tamil Murasu urged Tamils to boycott the MIC.[13] This was followed by a call for change in MIC's leadership, led by Tamil MIC leaders, and Devaser stepped down.[10] The MIC then faced the challenge of reconciling the political aspirations of the middle class with the needs of the working class, who at the time comprised 84% of the plantation workforce.

V. T Sambanthan and becoming a Tamil party

[edit]

In May 1955, Tun V. T. Sambanthan was elected as the fifth President of the Malayan Indian Congress. Sambanthan started a recruitment campaign among plantation workers, relying on the patronage of Hinduism in its popular South Indian form, increased use of the Tamil language, and encouraging Tamil cultural activities. He personally toured plantations and encouraged Tamils to join the MIC.[10] This led to a fragmentation of the Indian community, with traditionalists and the lower middle class becoming prominent in the party while upper-class professionals and the intelligentsia moved away from it. Two paths to leadership emerged in the Indian community, via politics or via trade union activism, with very little interaction between them.[citation needed]

Under Sambanthan's leadership, the MIC effectively became a Tamil party. Sambanthan served as president of the MIC until 1971 and was largely responsible for the transformation of the party to a conservative and traditionalist party emphasising Indian culture, religion and language.[citation needed] It was the weakest of the three main political parties, with the smallest electorate (7.4% in 1959) and had little support from the Indian community at large.

The Indian community was geographically dispersed and divided and comprised less than 25% of the population in any constituency. The MIC's overriding concern was therefore to remain a partner in the Alliance and obtain whatever concessions it could from the dominant UMNO. This led the MIC to compromise on priorities such as the political and economic rights of workers.[14]

Sambanthan sold approximately half of his father's 2.4 km2 rubber estate and donated part of the money to the MIC. He was not uniformly popular but was able to gradually unite a party that had significant internal divides. During his presidency, in 1957, Malaysian independence was achieved. Sambanathan was involved in the negotiations with the British government's Reid Commission to draw up the new Malayan constitution. In 1963 Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak merged with the Federation of Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia, and the MIC renamed itself the Malaysian Indian Congress.

Sambanathan was forced to retire in favour of V. Manickavasagam in 1973 after a rebellion by five MIC leaders including Samy Vellu.

Manickavasagam and non-political ventures

[edit]

Manickavasagam served as president of MIC from 1973 to 1978. During this period, Malaysia's New Economic Policy was being developed, and the MIC convened two economic conferences in an unsuccessful effort to advocate for the interests of Indians.[15]

It was during this period that the MIC, as member of the Alliance, became part of the Barisan Nasional. The party sponsored the Nesa Multipurpose Cooperative and the MIC Unit Trust as part of its programme for economic ventures. It also set up the MIC Education Fund for members' children and the Malaysian Indian Scholarship Fund for higher education as well as acquiring an Institute for training Indians in technical and trade skills.

Manickavasagam appointed several new representatives to leadership positions, including Subramaniam Sathasivam, Datuk K. Pathmanaban, a Harvard MBA holder, and several others. They were young, well-educated and ambitious but lacked grassroots experience. Subramaniam was hand-picked by Manickavasagam to become deputy president and succeed him, but the party elected Samy Vellu as Deputy President instead, by a narrow margin of 26 votes.

Samy Vellu and emphasis on education

[edit]

Samy Vellu became MIC president in 1979 and served until 2010. Under his leadership, in 1984, the MIC founded the Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED) to offer educational opportunities and financial support to Indian students in Malaysia.[16] Since its establishment, more than 10,000 students have obtained loans and scholarships totaling about RM60 million MIED fund as of 2013.[17] In 2001, the MIC and MIED launched an AIMST University with the stated goal of helping Indians acquire professional training. Vellu was the founding chancellor of the university. By 2018, the university had achieved a score of 4 on the Malaysian Higher Education Institution's 5-point rating scale.[18] However, AIMST's commitment to training Indian students has been questioned.[19]

Vellu was succeeded by G. Palanivel who served from 2010 to 2014. Subramaniam was then elected, initially in an acting role, serving from 2014 to 2018. As of 2019, the party is led by Vigneswaran Sanasee.

Central Working Committee

[edit]

44 Central Working Committee members:

  1. M. Veeran
  2. K. Subramaniam
  3. D. Tharma Kumaran
  4. K. Balasundaram
  5. P. Kamalanathan
  6. K. Parthiban
  7. D. Vincent
  8. S. Tamilvanan
  9. S. Suppayah
  10. M. Mathuraiveran
  11. S. Marathamuthu
  12. N. Maneanay
  13. T. Novalan
  14. G. Sivah
  15. M. Karuppanan
  16. K. Sathasivam
  17. R. Supramaniam
  18. R. Rajandran
  19. G. Raman
  20. M. Rajandran
  21. S. Ananthan
  22. V. Arumugam
  23. J. Dhinagaran
  24. S. Rajah
  25. V. Elango
  26. R. Vidyananthan
  27. L. Manickam
  28. A. Mangleswaran
  29. S. Renugopal
  30. V. P. Shanmugam
  31. Peer Mohamad Bin Kadir
  32. C. Sivaraajh
  33. K. Ramalingam
  34. S. Murugavelu
  35. A. Sakthivel
  36. N. Sivakumar
  37. Siva Subramaniam
  38. R. Balasubramaniam
  39. A. Krishnaveny
  40. R. Inbavally
  41. K. Arvind
  42. K. Kesavan
  43. N. Saraswati
  44. R. Nelson

Source:[20]

  • State chairmen:
    • Perlis: S. Ilanckoh
    • Kedah: S. Ananthan
    • Kelantan: S. Renugopal
    • Terengganu: V. Mangeleswaran
    • Penang: J. Dhinagaran
    • Perak: V. Elango
    • Pahang: V. Arumugam
    • Selangor: M. B. Rajah
    • Federal Territories: S. Rajah
    • Negeri Sembilan: V.S. Mogan
    • Malacca: V.P. Shanmugam
    • Johor: R. Vidyananthan
    • Sabah: Peer Mohamad Kadir

Source:[20]

List of party leaders

[edit]

Presidents of the Malayan Indian Congress (1946–1963)

[edit]
Order Name[21] Term of office Notes
1 John Thivy 4 August 1946 1947
2 Baba Budh Singh Ji 1947 1950
3 K. Ramanathan Chettiar 1950 1952
4 Kundan Lal Devaser 1952 May 1955
5 V. T. Sambanthan May 1955 16 September 1963

Presidents of the Malaysian Indian Congress (1963–present)

[edit]
Order Name[21] Term of office Time in office Notes
5 V. T. Sambanthan 16 September 1963 30 June 1973 9 years, 287 days
6 V. Manickavasagam 30 June 1973 12 October 1978 5 years, 104 days
7 Samy Vellu 12 October 1979 6 December 2010 31 years, 55 days
8 Palanivel Govindasamy 6 December 2010 23 June 2013 2 years, 199 days
– Subramaniam Sathasivam 23 June 2013 25 June 2015 2 years, 2 days Acting President
9 Subramaniam Sathasivam 25 June 2015 15 July 2018 3 years, 20 days
10 Vigneswaran Sanasee 15 July 2018 Incumbent 6 years, 166 days

Elected representatives

[edit]

Dewan Negara (Senate)

[edit]

Senators

[edit]
Main article: Members of the Dewan Negara, 15th Malaysian Parliament
  1. Vell Paari Samy Vellu – appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
  2. Tan Sri Mohamed Haniffa Abdullah – appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
  3. Sivarraajh Chandran – appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives)

[edit]

Members of Parliament of the 15th Malaysian Parliament

[edit]
Main article: Members of the Dewan Rakyat, 15th Malaysian Parliament

As of 2019, MIC has only 1 MP in the House of Representatives.

State No. Parliament Constituency Member Party
 Perak P072 Tapah Saravanan Murugan MIC
Total Perak (1)

Dewan Undangan Negeri (State Legislative Assembly)

[edit]

Malaysian State Assembly Representatives

[edit]
Main article: List of Malaysian State Assembly Representatives (2018–)
State No. Federal Constituency No. State Constituency Member Party
 Pahang P089 Bentong N35 Sabai V Arumugam MIC
 Malacca P135 Alor Gajah N7 Gadek Shanmugam Ptcyhay MIC
 Johor P141 Sekijang N4 Kemelah Saraswathy Nallathanby MIC
P153 Sembrong N31 Kahang Vidyananthan Ramanadhan MIC
P154 Mersing N33 Tenggaroh Raven Kumar Krishnasamy MIC
Total Pahang (1), Malacca (1), Johor (3)

General election results

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Election Total seats won Seats contested Total votes Share of votes Outcome of election Election leader
1955
2 / 52
 2 26,868 2.68% Increase2 seats; Governing coalition
(Alliance Party) 		V. T. Sambanthan
1959
3 / 104
 3 15,711 1.02% Increase1 seat; Governing coalition
(Alliance Party) 		V. T. Sambanthan
1964
3 / 104
 3 19,269 1.60% Steady; Governing coalition
(Alliance Party) 		V. T. Sambanthan
1969
2 / 144
 3 Decrease1 seat; Governing coalition
(Alliance Party) 		V. T. Sambanthan
1974
4 / 144
 5 Increase2 seats; Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		V. Manickavasagam
1978
3 / 154
 5 Decrease1 seat; Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		V. Manickavasagam
1982
4 / 154
 5 Increase1 seat; Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		Samy Vellu
1986
6 / 177
 7 104,701 2.21% Increase2 seats; Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		Samy Vellu
1990
6 / 180
 7 Steady; Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		Samy Vellu
1995
7 / 192
 Increase1 seat; Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		Samy Vellu
1999
7 / 193
 Steady; Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		Samy Vellu
2004
9 / 219
 221,546 3.2% Increase2 seats; Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		Samy Vellu
2008
3 / 222
 9 179,422 2.21% Decrease6 seats; Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		Samy Vellu
2013
4 / 222
 9 286,629 2.59% Increase1 seat; Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		Palanivel Govindasamy
2018
2 / 222
 9 167,061 1.39% Decrease2 seats; Opposition coalition,
later Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		S. Subramaniam
2022
1 / 222
 10 172,176 1.11% Decrease1 seat; Governing coalition
(Barisan Nasional) 		Vigneswaran Sanasee

State election results

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State election State Legislative Assembly
Perlis State Legislative Assembly Kedah State Legislative Assembly Kelantan State Legislative Assembly Terengganu State Legislative Assembly Penang State Legislative Assembly Perak State Legislative Assembly Pahang State Legislative Assembly Selangor State Legislative Assembly Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly Malacca State Legislative Assembly Johor State Legislative Assembly Sabah State Legislative Assembly Total won / Total contested
2/3 majority
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
2013
0 / 36
0 / 40
0 / 59
0 / 42
0 / 56
1 / 36
1 / 28
3 / 56
5 / 18
2018
0 / 36
0 / 40
0 / 59
0 / 42
0 / 56
1 / 36
0 / 28
2 / 56
3 / 18
2021
1 / 28
1 / 1
2022
3 / 56
3 / 4
2022
0 / 15
0 / 59
1 / 42
1 / 4

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Arvind wins MIC Youth chief's post uncontested". 9 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Johor MIC leader declares candidacy for Wanita chief's post".
  3. ^ "Dr Shatesh wins Putera MIC chief post".
  4. ^ Bernama (22 October 2023). "Kemaman by-election : MIC will help campaign for candidate from unity govt coalition | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  5. ^ Timothy J. Lomperis, ed. (2000). From People's War to People's Rule: Insurgency, Intervention, and the Lessons of Vietnam. Univ of North Carolina Press. p. 217. ISBN 9789971693916.
  6. ^ Andrew C. Willford, ed. (2007). Cage of Freedom: Tamil Identity and the Ethnic Fetish in Malaysia. NUS Paper. p. 26. ISBN 9789971693916.
  7. ^ "History – MIC". Malaysian Indian Congress.
  8. ^ Lau, Albert (1991). The Malayan Union controversy 1942–1948. Singapore: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-588964-9. OCLC 22117633.
  9. ^ Rajagopal, Shanthiah; Fernando, Joseph Milton (27 April 2018). "The Malayan Indian Congress and Early Political Rivalry among Indian Organisations in Malaya, 1946–1950". Kajian Malaysia. 36 (1): 25–42. doi:10.21315/km2018.36.1.2.
  10. ^ a b c d Kailasam, A. (1 January 2015). "Political expediencies and the process of identity construction: The quest for indian identity in Malaysia" (PDF). Kajian Malaysia. 33: 1–18.
  11. ^ "MIC – The Hidden History". malaysianindian1.blogspot.my.
  12. ^ Brown, Rajeswary Ampalavanar (1981). The Indian minority and political change in Malaya, 1945–1957. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-580473-2. OCLC 8080662.
  13. ^ "Archives". The Star. Archived from the original on 14 June 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  14. ^ Koh, Sin Yee (2016). "Unpacking 'Malaysia' and 'Malaysian Citizenship': Perspectives of Malaysian-Chinese Skilled Diasporas". In Christou, A.; Mavroudi, E. (eds.). Dismantling Diasporas: Rethinking the Geographies of Diasporic Identity, Connection and Development. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-14958-3.
  15. ^ Anbalakan, K. (1 January 2003). "The NEP and Further Marginalization of the Indians" (PDF). Kajian Malaysia. 21: 379–398. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 August 2016.
  16. ^ "Corporate Profile – Maju Institute Of Educational Development". Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Mied". Archived from the original on 16 July 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  18. ^ SEE, BERNARD (24 November 2018). "Varsity to keep chasing excellence". The Star Online. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  19. ^ "MIC turns 70, but AIMST intake of Indian students 'shocking'". The Malaysian Times. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Central Working Committee". Malaysian Indian Congress.
  21. ^ a b "Past Presidents of MIC – MIC".
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