MIC History

The Malaysian Indian Congress (then Malayan Indian Congress and probably until the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963) was founded in August 1946 by John A. Thivy, first President of the party (1946-1947). It was established 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. It was the intense anti-British sentiment that made the MIC under the leadership of its second

President Mr. Budh Singh (1947-1950) critical of the Malayan Union proposals that did not rally Indian support although the proposals were favourable and upheld the principle of jus soli. Later the MIC joined the All Malaya Council for Joint Action (AMCJA) under Tun Tan Cheng Lok in opposition to the less liberal Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948.The second phase of the Party began, under its third President Mr. K.Ramanathan (1950-1951), realising the ineffectiveness and futility of non-cooperation with the Government when the other major communities represented by UMNO (United Malays' National Orgnization) and MCA (Malayan Chinese Association, later Malaysian Chinese Association) cooperated, the MIC contested in 1952 Kuala Lumpur Municipal Elections in alliance with the IMP (?) under Dato' Onn bin Jaafar and other non-communal organizations. 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. The third phase of the MIC history was its consolidation.

Under Tun V.T Sambanthan, the fifth President (1955-1973), the party grew in membership as well as in the number of branches, becoming a mass based party, and the same time firmly entrenching the MIC as a partner of Alliance. On 31 August 1957, independence of Malaysia was achieved under the Merdeka Agreement in which Tun V.T. Sambanthan was a signatory.The fourth phase of the party began with Tan Sri Dato V. Manikavasagam, the sixth President (1973-1979). It was during this period that the MIC as a member of the Alliance became part of Barisan Nasional (BN). BN (National Front), including 10 parties, succeeded the Alliance in 1974. MIC 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 as well as acquiring an

Institute for training Indians in technical and trade skills. With the demise of Tan Sri Dato V. Manikavasagam on 12 October 1979., Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu has taken over the helm of the Party. In the 2004 parliamentary elections, the BN-MIC won nine seats (4 in Selangor, 2 in Perak and 1 in Johor, Pahang and Negeir Sembilan). The party is represented in the central government by the Minister of Works, three Deputy Ministers, and three Parliament Secretaries. In 1996, Indians represented 7.2% of the population of Malaysia.

The flag of the Malaysian Indian Congress is made of 16 horizontal stripes: the seven red and seven white stripes from the Malaysian national flag and a blue stripe on top and bottom of the flag. Those blue stripes symbolize peace and prosperity. A green circle placed in the center of the flag symbolizes unity; the acronyms Ma Yi Kah (மஇகா, Tamil) and MIC (Bahasa Malaysia) are written in green inside the circle.