As a new ethnic Indian party was launched this weekend, country's largest ethnic Indian political party, Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) claimed it is the real 'sakti' or power of the minority community Kuala Lumpur.

Reacting on the formation of 'Makkal Sakti', or People's Power, that vowed to serve the ethnic Indian population in the country, the deputy president of MIC G Palanivel said their party "was not a new baby" but a 63-year-old born in a temple.

"The MIC was created out of an intense fire which still burns in the heart of every MIC member. It was born out of nationalism and a party which is a signatory to the Merdeka (independence) Agreement," Palanivel said.

Asserting that MIC is working hard on the ground, he said ethnic Indians have an emotional link with it and recalled that country's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman had once said: "Even if there was only one Indian in the MIC, I would only talk to the MIC."

"But unfortunately we no longer live in the era of leaders like Tunku," he said.

Malaysia's ethnic Indians, mostly Tamils, comprise eight per cent of the country's population of 27 million people.

He said it is the widespread anger against Barisan that resulted in its defeat in 2008 general elections and is unfair to blame MIC for it.

"The MIC is only a minority. So, how could it have brought about the downfall of the coalition. How can we alone bring about the fall of the strong Barisan governments in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor," Palanivel said.