00:00Three political analysts have dismissed and MIC leaders claim that the party may someday contest
00:06for a seat in the Sabah Assembly, citing the state's complex political terrain and the limited
00:11size of its Indian electorate. James Chin of the University of Tasmania said no constituency in
00:17Sabah has more than 5% Indian voters, adding that if MIC contests, people will ask who they are
00:24trying to represent. Asmi Hassan of Academy Nusantara and University of Malaysia Sabah's Lee Kuo-teong
00:30said MIC would also struggle to overcome scepticism as a Peninsula-based party.
00:36Asmi said it would be difficult for MIC to find a partner, adding that the party lacks political
00:41traction even in Peninsula Malaysia. Lee said with the dominance of local parties in Sabah,
00:47it would be harder for MIC to get winnable seats without upsetting potential partners.
00:53He said it would be more realistic to appoint an MIC representative to one of the six nominated
00:58Assemblyman posts, but added that Sabah MIC must prove it is a local party rather than an important
01:05one for Malaya. The analysts were commenting on MIC Vice President Timurugia's remarks that the party
01:12might one day contest in Sabah to represent the Indian community. Natasha Bust, FMT.
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