KUALA LUMPUR — MIC has urged the public to avoid politicising its Ponggal greetings after criticism over a festive message that referred to the celebration as both Ponggal and Tamil New Year.
The backlash followed Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, MIC deputy president, and other party leaders wishing Malaysians a “Happy Tamil New Year” on January 15, coinciding with the Ponggal harvest festival.
The greetings drew criticism on social media, with users accusing MIC of conflating cultural and religious traditions.
Some argued that Ponggal should be recognised strictly as a harvest and thanksgiving festival and questioned whether a party representing the Malaysian Indian and Hindu community should have exercised greater care.
Several netizens also compared MIC’s postings with those of politicians from PKR, DAP, and MCA, whose greetings were limited to “Selamat Hari Ponggal,” with many arguing that MIC had failed to adopt the more neutral approach taken by these parties.
Criticism driven by ideology, not culture
Vivek Saravanan, private secretary and political aide to Datuk Seri Saravanan, told Scoop that the criticism was largely driven by ideological differences rather than genuine cultural concerns.
He defended MIC’s decision to integrate the Tamil New Year with Ponggal, noting the party’s longstanding cultural and political links with Tamil Nadu and the South Indian state’s current ruling government, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
“MIC has historically had close ties with DMK leaders, from the late M. Karunanidhi and now Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. We look up to them,” Vivek said.
“These connections are cultural and historical. They are not new and should not be politicised.”
He said MIC leaders have consistently engaged in Tamil conferences and cultural programmes in Tamil Nadu, reflecting shared language, heritage, and social values rather than political allegiance.
“Our leaders, including Saravanan, and former leaders, have attended such events for decades. These engagements are about our shared heritage, not political alignment,” he added.
Vivek said MIC openly embraces the idea of Dravidian unity, a cultural and social philosophy centred on language, heritage, and social justice rather than religion.
Ponggal symbolises gratitude and renewal
He added that much of the criticism originates from individuals who idolise All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK), Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), or Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politics and project those preferences onto Malaysian Indians.
“This issue comes up almost every year, driven by the same arguments,” he said.
“People should focus on the positives: the unity, gratitude, and cultural pride that Ponggal represents, instead of creating friction. Just because you are a staunch Hindu and follow the ideologies of other political parties from India, it does not mean you should spread hatred or try to break the unity within our community.”
Vivek rejected suggestions that MIC was attempting to redefine Tamil traditions or impose a political agenda.
“There was no intention to rewrite culture or offend anyone. The greeting simply reflects how a segment of the Tamil community understands the festival,” he said.
He pointed out that comparisons with other local political parties should consider the historical context.
“PKR, DAP, and MCA only began publicly wishing Ponggal in recent years, after the establishment of the Madani government,” he said.
Vivek emphasised that Ponggal has long carried broader cultural meaning for many Tamils, particularly in agrarian societies where the harvest marked renewal and new beginnings during the Tamil month of Thai.
“Ponggal symbolises the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. That understanding has existed long before modern political debates.
“Acknowledging our cultural roots does not exclude anyone. Ponggal is about gratitude, renewal, and togetherness. It should bring people together, not divide them,” he added. — January 16, 2026