First formed as Singapore Regional Indian Congress, it changed its name on 23 December 1953 to become the Singapore arm of MIC. The latter was set up in Malaya in 1946, modelling India's Congress Party. Like its Malayan counterpart, it was allied to Singapore's UMNO and MCA chapters but did not use the alliance symbol, and joined SA in 1963. In February 1968, MIC Singapore was renamed SIC after a new law was passed to prevent local parties from being extensions of overseas parties. Later, several key members were instrumental in forming UNF. MIC Malaysia, known today as Malaysia Indian Congress, still exists as a member of Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
(Note: There was another SIC of the same name formed on 17 November 1957 that had disappeared by 1961, which was not affiliated to MIC.) |
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