The best way for the Pakatan Rakyat to win back its lost Indian electoral ground is to team up with the Human Rights Party (HRP) with its socio-political arm Hindu Rights Action Front or Hindraf, suggested a Penang based academic.
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)deputy dean from USM's school of social sciences Sivamurugan Pandian said such a combination looked the best bet for Pakatan to reach out to Indian voters across the country, despite Hindraf's self-destructive tendencies.
Given that virtually all Indian-based parties and organisations were linked to Barisan Nasional, he said it was politically crucial for Pakatan to include an Indian face to its fold.
He said Pakatan now had a Muslim face in PAS, Chinese face in DAP and a Malay-led multi racial face in PKR.
"Teaming up with HRP - Hindraf would secure Pakatan the majority Indian votes required to reach Putrajaya in the 13th general election.
"Otherwise Pakatan would not be able to muster the Indian votes," the academician predicted, although Hindraf has been at Pakatan's and the Barisan Nasional's throats whenever an opportunity presented itself.
Sleeping with devil for mutual benefit
Still, Sivamurugan (right) raised the question of whether HRP - Hindraf was willing to team up with Pakatan.
"Currently HRP - Hindraf attacks both the BN and the Pakatan.
"However, both should be able to work out a deal for mutual benefit if they want to," he said.
He told Malaysiakini said it would not be difficult for PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim to forge ties with that group since both had pulled together so well in last general elections.
That move could also fill a gap in the Pakatan -- the lack of leaders charismatic enough to appeal to the Indian masses, pointing out that the present lot have failed miserably to fire the imagination of the community.
He said none of them have emerged thus far, despite being elected representatives for the past 20 months, to stand out as a grassroots leader.
"Indians are dismayed that they didn't get a strong political representation in Pakatan,' said Sivamurugan.
On contrary, he said HRP - Hindraf leaders, especially P Uthayakumar and his London-based brother Waytha Moorthy, have consistently fought for working class Indians over various issues, without elaborating.
Sivamurugan said despite attempts by certain former Hindraf activists to destabilise the movement the HRP - Hindraf leaders have fought consistently for the Indian community.
07/02/10
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)deputy dean from USM's school of social sciences Sivamurugan Pandian said such a combination looked the best bet for Pakatan to reach out to Indian voters across the country, despite Hindraf's self-destructive tendencies.
Given that virtually all Indian-based parties and organisations were linked to Barisan Nasional, he said it was politically crucial for Pakatan to include an Indian face to its fold.
He said Pakatan now had a Muslim face in PAS, Chinese face in DAP and a Malay-led multi racial face in PKR.
"Teaming up with HRP - Hindraf would secure Pakatan the majority Indian votes required to reach Putrajaya in the 13th general election.
"Otherwise Pakatan would not be able to muster the Indian votes," the academician predicted, although Hindraf has been at Pakatan's and the Barisan Nasional's throats whenever an opportunity presented itself.
Sleeping with devil for mutual benefit
Still, Sivamurugan (right) raised the question of whether HRP - Hindraf was willing to team up with Pakatan.
"Currently HRP - Hindraf attacks both the BN and the Pakatan.
"However, both should be able to work out a deal for mutual benefit if they want to," he said.
He told Malaysiakini said it would not be difficult for PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim to forge ties with that group since both had pulled together so well in last general elections.
That move could also fill a gap in the Pakatan -- the lack of leaders charismatic enough to appeal to the Indian masses, pointing out that the present lot have failed miserably to fire the imagination of the community.
He said none of them have emerged thus far, despite being elected representatives for the past 20 months, to stand out as a grassroots leader.
"Indians are dismayed that they didn't get a strong political representation in Pakatan,' said Sivamurugan.
On contrary, he said HRP - Hindraf leaders, especially P Uthayakumar and his London-based brother Waytha Moorthy, have consistently fought for working class Indians over various issues, without elaborating.
Sivamurugan said despite attempts by certain former Hindraf activists to destabilise the movement the HRP - Hindraf leaders have fought consistently for the Indian community.
07/02/10
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