Jayashree: IPF will always support BN

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian Progressive Front (IPF) will continue to support the Barisan Nasional despite not being accepted into the coalition since the mid-1990s, Puan Sri Jayashree Pandithan said.

Pledging the party’s support yesterday, Jayashree, who took over the leadership following the death of her husband and IPF chief Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan, said they would submit a formal application to Barisan next week.

United front: Abu gesturing after opening the IPF’s 17th general assembly on behalf of Tengku Adnan in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Joining him are (from left) secretary-general K.P. Velayutham, Jayashree, deputy president K. Murugiah and vice-president M. Sambanthan.

She said the party would also try and meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak over the matter.

Jayashree said they would never turn to the Opposition but would instead continue their attempts to join Barisan.

“We have worked hard in all general elections and by-elections despite being scorned and ridiculed by the Opposition,” she said when addressing IPF’s 17th general assembly.

Jayashree said they would continue the vision of Pandithan, who initiated IPF in 1990.

The party, which initially supported the Opposition, has backed Barisan for about 15 years and first tried to join the Barisan in 1994.

Speaking to reporters later, Jayashree said IPF would not join other Indian-based parties such as MIC or the Makkal Sakthi party.

“We have about 300,000 members. We have proven that IPF is a powerful and established party,” she added.

On factions within the party, she said there are plans to bridge differences and openly invited those who left to renew their membership.

Najib, in the IPF assembly book address, congratulated and expressed appreciation to IPF for its unwavering support and dedication towards Barisan over the years despite not being a component party member.

Barisan secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said IPF had been a longtime coalition ally.

“We understand each other and are always brothers although we are not staying under one roof,” he said in his speech read out by Barisan executive secretary Datuk Abu Khamis at the assembly’s opening ceremony.

Also present were political party leaders, including MCA secretary-general Senator Datuk Wong Foon Meng, MIC’s S. Vell Paari, Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP) president Datuk K.S. Nallakaruppan and Federal Territory & Selangor Indian Newspaper Vendors Associa-tion president Datuk N. Muniandy.