The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) is quickly becoming a cautionary tale of political irrelevance. Once the main voice of the Indian community in Malaysia, it is now a party mired in confusion, indecision, and public ridicule.

Recent reports show the absurdity perfectly. Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan announced that MIC had officially joined coalition, only for MIC deputy president M. Saravanan to deny it shortly afterwards, saying no application had been filed and that the Indian party’s central working committee (CWC) had yet to decide.

MIC today looks like a party desperately searching for relevance, knocking on doors without knowing whether it wants to enter or just be seen knocking. One moment it clings to Barisan Nasional (BN), the next it is exploring PN. Then, according to PN leaders, it is already inside. Then comes the denial.

This confusion is more than embarrassing. It shows a deeper problem: leadership paralysis.

Saravanan has openly admitted that MIC felt sidelined and cheated on several occasions, including over promised Cabinet posts in the unity government. Yet instead of fixing its internal problems and rebuilding credibility, the party has chosen to play opportunistic musical chairs between coalitions.

Delegates at the 79th MIC Annual General Assembly last year reportedly approved a resolution to leave BN and join PN, saying it would give a more inclusive platform for the Indian community. They gave full authority to MIC president S.A. Vigneswaran and the CWC to finalise the exit. The public sees indecision, flip-flopping, and endless exploration without commitment, and it is just comical.

Political survival seems to be MIC’s only motivation. The party has clearly noticed PN’s internal squabbles and ongoing coalition uncertainties. It may now be taking a step back to see how things unfold.

Party leaders may also have realised that with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s Rumah Bangsa initiative, BN is becoming stronger, and leaving now would look foolish.

Whatever the reason, the damage is clear. MIC’s credibility is in tatters. Support from the Indian community, already declining since 2008, continues to slip away.

Instead of being a proud and decisive representative of its community, MIC has become a political joke, more known for confusion than leadership.

The reality is that, in pursuit of survival, MIC has sacrificed relevance. And in Malaysian politics, a party without relevance has no future.