The rally organized by the Hindu Rights Action force (HINDRAF) at Kuala Lumpur on 25 November, 2007, in which over 10,000 Hindus had participated, has turned out to be a hornet’s nest for the Malaysian government. The police used tear gas and water canons to break the rally. Since then much has been written on the rally by the Malaysian media and by the Indian media too.
It can be said that through this rally, the plight of the ethnic Indians has again been brought to the fore, much to the embarrassment of the Malaysian government, especially when there is talk of a general election in the near future.
The avowed purpose of the rally was to hand over a memorandum to the British High Commission regarding a class action suit against the British Government for bringing Indians to the then Malaya as indentured labour and demanding $ 4 trillion as compensation. However the main aim was to draw the attention of the Malaysian government to the continuing “marginalization” of the ethnic Indian community and the resultant economic plight of the Indians.
Historic Background
Ethnic Indians (approximately 2 million) make up about 8 % of the country’s population of 27 million (Malays in the majority – 66 % and the Chinese – 26 %). Besides being a minority, numerically the Indians are becoming even more irrelevant.
Though the majority of the ethnic Indians are Tamils (about 90 %), it is a disparate group of Telugus, Malayalees, Sindhis, Gujaratis, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, and Ceylon Tamils. The fact is, all except the Tamils (mostly the erstwhile and current plantation workers) are economically better off.
The mass Indian (South Indian) immigration can be traced back to the early 20th century when the Britishers brought them to meet the labour force requirements in the colonial public services and in private plantations. While the bulk of the Tamils were employed in the plantations, the Sri Lankan Tamils and Malayalees were in supervisory or clerical positions. Of the North Indians, the Punjabis were in the police force, while the Gujaratis and the Sindhis were in business (mostly textiles). Despite the mass exodus of South Indians back to India after independence in 1957 and after the racial riots of May 1969, the Tamils constitute about 80 to 90 % of the total Indian community.
There is no national level integration of the Indians to espouse their cause save through the medium of the political parties. Even this HINDRAF as the name suggests, is Hindu based and hence the other castes have been left out. Ideally, it should have been the Indian Rights Action Force to make it more meaningful to represent the ethnic Indians as a whole.
The Tamils were mostly in the plantation sector from which they have since deserted as plantations are now being manned by foreign labour. The Tamils, however, continue to be labourers and unskilled workers in the towns and cities.
Wazir Jahan Karim, of the Academy of Socio-Economic Research and Analysis, while going into the reasons for the plight of the Indians writes:-
“Indians in Malaysia inherit a complex triology, of economic history, linked to insidious form of labour recruitment from 1786 to 1947, poverty encapsulation where the plantations offered little mobility, and contests for ethnic political representation”.
“There was also rural destitution in the plantation sector among Tamils. It (The Malaysian Government) left the plantation sector to be tackled by its Indian leaders. Trade unionism, through the National Union of Plantation Workers, became a source of Tamil activism for better wages and economic livelihoods”.
Some Statistics on the Indian Community
It can be said that through this rally, the plight of the ethnic Indians has again been brought to the fore, much to the embarrassment of the Malaysian government, especially when there is talk of a general election in the near future.
The avowed purpose of the rally was to hand over a memorandum to the British High Commission regarding a class action suit against the British Government for bringing Indians to the then Malaya as indentured labour and demanding $ 4 trillion as compensation. However the main aim was to draw the attention of the Malaysian government to the continuing “marginalization” of the ethnic Indian community and the resultant economic plight of the Indians.
Historic Background
Ethnic Indians (approximately 2 million) make up about 8 % of the country’s population of 27 million (Malays in the majority – 66 % and the Chinese – 26 %). Besides being a minority, numerically the Indians are becoming even more irrelevant.
Though the majority of the ethnic Indians are Tamils (about 90 %), it is a disparate group of Telugus, Malayalees, Sindhis, Gujaratis, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, and Ceylon Tamils. The fact is, all except the Tamils (mostly the erstwhile and current plantation workers) are economically better off.
The mass Indian (South Indian) immigration can be traced back to the early 20th century when the Britishers brought them to meet the labour force requirements in the colonial public services and in private plantations. While the bulk of the Tamils were employed in the plantations, the Sri Lankan Tamils and Malayalees were in supervisory or clerical positions. Of the North Indians, the Punjabis were in the police force, while the Gujaratis and the Sindhis were in business (mostly textiles). Despite the mass exodus of South Indians back to India after independence in 1957 and after the racial riots of May 1969, the Tamils constitute about 80 to 90 % of the total Indian community.
There is no national level integration of the Indians to espouse their cause save through the medium of the political parties. Even this HINDRAF as the name suggests, is Hindu based and hence the other castes have been left out. Ideally, it should have been the Indian Rights Action Force to make it more meaningful to represent the ethnic Indians as a whole.
The Tamils were mostly in the plantation sector from which they have since deserted as plantations are now being manned by foreign labour. The Tamils, however, continue to be labourers and unskilled workers in the towns and cities.
Wazir Jahan Karim, of the Academy of Socio-Economic Research and Analysis, while going into the reasons for the plight of the Indians writes:-
“Indians in Malaysia inherit a complex triology, of economic history, linked to insidious form of labour recruitment from 1786 to 1947, poverty encapsulation where the plantations offered little mobility, and contests for ethnic political representation”.
“There was also rural destitution in the plantation sector among Tamils. It (The Malaysian Government) left the plantation sector to be tackled by its Indian leaders. Trade unionism, through the National Union of Plantation Workers, became a source of Tamil activism for better wages and economic livelihoods”.
Some Statistics on the Indian Community
“The Indians account for 63% of those arrested under the Emergency ordinance for violent crimes, 41% of beggars and 20% of child abusers in the country.”- Asia week January 26, 2001.
“They (Indians) make up 14% of its juvenile delinquents, 20% of its wife and child beaters and 41% of beggars. They make up less than 5% of successful university applicants” - The Economist 22 February, 2003.
“Only 40% of them (Indians) constitute the middle or upper middle classes. The rest is blue collar labour force. If there is one Indian Diaspora experiment that has really failed, it is Malaysia” – A delegate at the Pravasi Bharatia Divas 2008 (Times of India, January 10, 2008).
“Indians own less than 2% of the national wealth” - Baradan Kuppusamy in AT online 19 October 2005.
“Outside an affirmative policy the Government has helped through a quota system under which Indians get 5 to10 % of university places, scholarships and some minimal employment in the civil service. A small elite within the community has used these resources to climb out of poverty, but for most there are no such doors to escape” - Baradan Kuppusamy - AT online 19 October 2005.
“Persons of Indian origin, who comprise about 7.8 % of the population in Malaysia have only 4.5 % representation in government jobs” – Asian Age 09 January, 2008.
“At least 10,000 Hindu temples have been demolished in Malaysia since its independence in 1957” – The Pioneer, New Delhi December 9, 2007.
Besides the above there are instances without any authentic data, pertaining to racial discrimination in many fields to include:
intake for government, armed services and police
allotment of government contracts to non-Malays
allotment of business licenses
closure of Tamil primary schools
award of government scholarships
granting of citizenship to Indians
granting of permits for taxis
allotment of shopping lots
admission to universities
appointment of lecturers
HINDRAF
The Hindu Rights Actions Force, which staged a rally with about 10000 ethnic Indians on 25 November 2007, is an NGO. This demonstration (of taking to the streets) is the first by ethnic Indians on such a large scale since independence in 1957. This group was formed in 2005 to fight for Hindu rights. The key office bearers of this force are lawyers.
The rally was meant to support a $ 4 trillion law suit filed in London, as compensation to Indians brought as indentured labour to Malaya and exploiting them. However, the main aim was to protest against the continuing discrimination of the Indians by the affirmative action policies of the government in favour of the Malays.
The three founders of the NGO, P Uthaya Kumar, P. Waytha Moorthy and V. Ganapaty Rao were arrested and charged with sedition but later released on technical grounds.
The HINDRAF has been successful in staging this rally despite the government denying permission to hold it. “The HINDRAF’s call for rally had gained momentum thanks to their use of ‘citizen journalism’ to get the message across to the wide world” (Frontline 21 December, 2007).
In a presentation made at New Delhi, P. Waytha Moorthy, Chairman, HINDRAF made these salient points on the plight of the Indians.
The demolition of Hindu temples on the instructions of Malaysian authorities, who are pro-actively involved with the Islamisation drive, has gathered extraordinary speed.
The Government sanctioned Islamisation drive has moved into top gear.
More than two-thirds of the people of Indian origin in Malaysia, living in that country for 200 years and forming 10 percent of the population, are economically deprived because of their ethnicity and religious identity.
The number of Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam schools has dwindled drastically, even though the population has increased manifold.
Through the HINDRAF has no political linkages, at least two of its leaders M. Manoharan and V. Ganapati Rao are associated with the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP).
P. Waytha Moorthy, Chairman HINDRAF, in an interview in London on 02 January 2008 said “we are fighting a losing battle, we know. We try our level best but if we don’t succeed, we have to call it a day” Mr. Moorthy’s statements are the most honest and frank assessment of the reality faced by the minority community who have little economic or political clout (Asian Age 03 January, 2008).
Reaction of the Malaysian Government
The Malaysian Government was rather taken aback by the rally staged by HINDRAF on 25 November, 2007 as the government had not granted permission for the same. The government least expected the docile Indians to defy the ban and muster such a big gathering especially when such instances of people taking to streets rarely happen in Malaysia.
This rally was preceded by a rally of the opposition political parties on 10 November, 2007 demanding some electoral reforms.
The Government had charged three leaders of HINDRAF for sedition but they were ordered to be released on technical grounds by a judge. HINDRAF was also accused by the Government for alleged links with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Tamil terrorist outfit in Sri Lanka, which was strongly denied by its leaders. Malaysian Premier Abdullah Badawai went to the press to say that HINDRAF was making “baseless allegations”. He added that there is no ethnic cleansing in Malaysia and offered to resign if it can be proved.
29 November, 2007: Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nazri Aziz took strong exception to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s request to the Indian Prime Minister for seeking intervention with the Malaysian authorities on the issue. He retorted that “This has nothing to do with him ….. Lay off”.
13 December, 2007: The Malaysian Government has also invoked the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) for arresting five leaders of the HINDRAF. The ISA was passed in 1960 to crush a perceived communist threat. The act allows for the arrest and detention for an indefinite period without trial.
15 December, 2007: Prime Minister Badawai met representatives of 14 NGOs led by Malaysian Hindu Council Chairman R. Nadarajah. The Chairman said the discussions centered on all aspects including education, unity, agriculture and economy. The Prime Minister had assured the community that he will look into their grievances and address them accordingly.
24 December, 2007: In a welcome spin-off of the HINDRAF rally, a press release indicates that: The Malaysian Government has unveiled a major initiative to protect Hindu temples which were being demolished on the grounds that they were constructed illegally or in unauthorized land. Further demolitions won’t take place without a proper check.
8 January, 2008: In a diplomatic move to hit at the Indian Government for interfering in this matter, a news report indicated that there is a freeze on employment of workers from India by a cabinet order of 18 December, 2007. Currently there are about 1,40,000 Indian migrants working in Malaysia. Though issuance of such an order has been denied by the Malaysian Works Minister in New Delhi and further confirmed by the Indian High Commission, this is a strong message to the Indian Government. Media reports indicate that in view of this rally and strained relations with India, there will be tighter control and restrictions on visas and renewal of visas to Indian workers.
Reaction of the Indian Government
The first to react was the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi who had said on 27 November, 2007 that he was “very much pained” over the treatment meted out to Tamils and that he will take it up with the Prime Minister. The Tamil Nadu MPs on 29 November, 2007 demanded in the parliament, intervention by the Government on behalf of the agitating Tamils in Malaysia.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on 30 November, 2007 that the alleged ill treatment of Indian Diaspora in Malaysia is a “source of concern” for India. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha that he would take up the matter with his Malaysian counterpart.
M.Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, declined to meet Samy vellu, the Malaysian Works Minister, who was in Chennai for 3 days from 30 December 2007, and had reportedly tried frantically to meet Karunanidhi and explain the situation consequent to the HINDRAF rally.
On 2 December, 2007, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi had a meeting with P. Waytha Moorthy of HINDRAF and was briefed on the various types of discrimination and alleged state violence the Indian Community was facing in Malaysia. The Chief Minister while expressing concern had told HINDRAF representative that he would take up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The issue came up again during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2008 celebrations at New Delhi from 07 to 09 January, 2008. The reported freeze on Indian workers by a Malaysian cabinet order was also raised. Mr. Samy Vellu, Works Minister for Malaysia who was a special invitee, denied these reports. However, the other Indian expatriates from Malaysia gave vent to their feelings and blamed Samy Vellu for the “serious plight” of the Indians.
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)
The MIC, the leading political party of the ethnic Indians and a constituent of the ruling coalition government since independence, does not have much political clout and has failed to improve the lot of the Indians over these years.
Datuk Seri Samy Vellu is the President of MIC since 1979. The MIC is more like a one man army and he is running it as his fiefdom. The constitution of the party has been amended suitably to suit his requirements and he has ruthlessly dealt with his Deputy/ Vice Presidents who had tried to unseat him.
It also suits the Malaysian Government to have him at the top as he is very pliable and happy with the Government policies towards Indians as long as he continues to be the sole Indian Minister at the cabinet level.
Consequent to this HINDRAF rally, which was an yet another wake-up call for the party, he announced that the party is to be revamped to make it more effective and efficient in meeting the needs of the Indians. A look at the various blogs in the Malaysian websites, in response to this announcement, indicates that the views were almost unanimous in that the revamping should start from the top and that he should step down. It is a pity that the Indian Government is honouring him and invites him regularly for meetings of the Indian Diaspora, giving little chance or encouragement to other aspiring leaders.
Conclusion
There is a significant and emergent need for a change in the leadership of the MIC to take up the cause of the Indians, to get them their due rights free from racial discrimination and have full access to jobs and education at least within the quotas allotted.
Since the Indian political institutions are weak, there is a need for the NGOs (such as the HINDRAF), social and cultural institutions to get together and forge a single identity to embark upon an action plan to have a definite impact on the Government.
Undue importance on religion, culture and vernacular (Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi) education has to be avoided, and priority given to education in English and Bahasa Malaysia and training in vocational and professional skills.
The affirmative action policy favouring the Malays has more than achieved its aim. The opposition parties have been asking for scrapping it. Hence, every opportunity to highlight the ill effects of this policy on the minorities has to be made in the local and international media.
Since the Indian Government has now started interacting with the Indian Diaspora on an yearly basis, special attention has to be focused on the Persons of Indian origin in Malaysia. More facilities especially in the field of education for the Malaysian Indians, through our professional colleges and IITs should arranged. Tamil Nadu can open its technical institutions on a priority basis.
The Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur can be made more interactive (within the confines of diplomacy) with ethnic Indians by putting in to effect some proposals earlier made for supporting Indian Minority Schools and flying in teachers from Tamil Nadu for teaching Tamil and English.
Consequent to the rally some multi racial political opposition parties are supporting the issues taken up by HINDRAF, much to the chagrin of the MIC and the ruling coalition.
The prospects for the Indian Community were never bright and the future does not seem to be any better. At best they may get a few sops this year (when general elections are likely to be held) to woo the Indian voters. The initiative will have to come from the community itself and it should no longer depend on their leaders who have let them down time and again.
source: South Asia Analysis Group
“They (Indians) make up 14% of its juvenile delinquents, 20% of its wife and child beaters and 41% of beggars. They make up less than 5% of successful university applicants” - The Economist 22 February, 2003.
“Only 40% of them (Indians) constitute the middle or upper middle classes. The rest is blue collar labour force. If there is one Indian Diaspora experiment that has really failed, it is Malaysia” – A delegate at the Pravasi Bharatia Divas 2008 (Times of India, January 10, 2008).
“Indians own less than 2% of the national wealth” - Baradan Kuppusamy in AT online 19 October 2005.
“Outside an affirmative policy the Government has helped through a quota system under which Indians get 5 to10 % of university places, scholarships and some minimal employment in the civil service. A small elite within the community has used these resources to climb out of poverty, but for most there are no such doors to escape” - Baradan Kuppusamy - AT online 19 October 2005.
“Persons of Indian origin, who comprise about 7.8 % of the population in Malaysia have only 4.5 % representation in government jobs” – Asian Age 09 January, 2008.
“At least 10,000 Hindu temples have been demolished in Malaysia since its independence in 1957” – The Pioneer, New Delhi December 9, 2007.
Besides the above there are instances without any authentic data, pertaining to racial discrimination in many fields to include:
intake for government, armed services and police
allotment of government contracts to non-Malays
allotment of business licenses
closure of Tamil primary schools
award of government scholarships
granting of citizenship to Indians
granting of permits for taxis
allotment of shopping lots
admission to universities
appointment of lecturers
HINDRAF
The Hindu Rights Actions Force, which staged a rally with about 10000 ethnic Indians on 25 November 2007, is an NGO. This demonstration (of taking to the streets) is the first by ethnic Indians on such a large scale since independence in 1957. This group was formed in 2005 to fight for Hindu rights. The key office bearers of this force are lawyers.
The rally was meant to support a $ 4 trillion law suit filed in London, as compensation to Indians brought as indentured labour to Malaya and exploiting them. However, the main aim was to protest against the continuing discrimination of the Indians by the affirmative action policies of the government in favour of the Malays.
The three founders of the NGO, P Uthaya Kumar, P. Waytha Moorthy and V. Ganapaty Rao were arrested and charged with sedition but later released on technical grounds.
The HINDRAF has been successful in staging this rally despite the government denying permission to hold it. “The HINDRAF’s call for rally had gained momentum thanks to their use of ‘citizen journalism’ to get the message across to the wide world” (Frontline 21 December, 2007).
In a presentation made at New Delhi, P. Waytha Moorthy, Chairman, HINDRAF made these salient points on the plight of the Indians.
The demolition of Hindu temples on the instructions of Malaysian authorities, who are pro-actively involved with the Islamisation drive, has gathered extraordinary speed.
The Government sanctioned Islamisation drive has moved into top gear.
More than two-thirds of the people of Indian origin in Malaysia, living in that country for 200 years and forming 10 percent of the population, are economically deprived because of their ethnicity and religious identity.
The number of Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam schools has dwindled drastically, even though the population has increased manifold.
Through the HINDRAF has no political linkages, at least two of its leaders M. Manoharan and V. Ganapati Rao are associated with the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP).
P. Waytha Moorthy, Chairman HINDRAF, in an interview in London on 02 January 2008 said “we are fighting a losing battle, we know. We try our level best but if we don’t succeed, we have to call it a day” Mr. Moorthy’s statements are the most honest and frank assessment of the reality faced by the minority community who have little economic or political clout (Asian Age 03 January, 2008).
Reaction of the Malaysian Government
The Malaysian Government was rather taken aback by the rally staged by HINDRAF on 25 November, 2007 as the government had not granted permission for the same. The government least expected the docile Indians to defy the ban and muster such a big gathering especially when such instances of people taking to streets rarely happen in Malaysia.
This rally was preceded by a rally of the opposition political parties on 10 November, 2007 demanding some electoral reforms.
The Government had charged three leaders of HINDRAF for sedition but they were ordered to be released on technical grounds by a judge. HINDRAF was also accused by the Government for alleged links with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Tamil terrorist outfit in Sri Lanka, which was strongly denied by its leaders. Malaysian Premier Abdullah Badawai went to the press to say that HINDRAF was making “baseless allegations”. He added that there is no ethnic cleansing in Malaysia and offered to resign if it can be proved.
29 November, 2007: Malaysian Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nazri Aziz took strong exception to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s request to the Indian Prime Minister for seeking intervention with the Malaysian authorities on the issue. He retorted that “This has nothing to do with him ….. Lay off”.
13 December, 2007: The Malaysian Government has also invoked the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) for arresting five leaders of the HINDRAF. The ISA was passed in 1960 to crush a perceived communist threat. The act allows for the arrest and detention for an indefinite period without trial.
15 December, 2007: Prime Minister Badawai met representatives of 14 NGOs led by Malaysian Hindu Council Chairman R. Nadarajah. The Chairman said the discussions centered on all aspects including education, unity, agriculture and economy. The Prime Minister had assured the community that he will look into their grievances and address them accordingly.
24 December, 2007: In a welcome spin-off of the HINDRAF rally, a press release indicates that: The Malaysian Government has unveiled a major initiative to protect Hindu temples which were being demolished on the grounds that they were constructed illegally or in unauthorized land. Further demolitions won’t take place without a proper check.
8 January, 2008: In a diplomatic move to hit at the Indian Government for interfering in this matter, a news report indicated that there is a freeze on employment of workers from India by a cabinet order of 18 December, 2007. Currently there are about 1,40,000 Indian migrants working in Malaysia. Though issuance of such an order has been denied by the Malaysian Works Minister in New Delhi and further confirmed by the Indian High Commission, this is a strong message to the Indian Government. Media reports indicate that in view of this rally and strained relations with India, there will be tighter control and restrictions on visas and renewal of visas to Indian workers.
Reaction of the Indian Government
The first to react was the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi who had said on 27 November, 2007 that he was “very much pained” over the treatment meted out to Tamils and that he will take it up with the Prime Minister. The Tamil Nadu MPs on 29 November, 2007 demanded in the parliament, intervention by the Government on behalf of the agitating Tamils in Malaysia.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on 30 November, 2007 that the alleged ill treatment of Indian Diaspora in Malaysia is a “source of concern” for India. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha that he would take up the matter with his Malaysian counterpart.
M.Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, declined to meet Samy vellu, the Malaysian Works Minister, who was in Chennai for 3 days from 30 December 2007, and had reportedly tried frantically to meet Karunanidhi and explain the situation consequent to the HINDRAF rally.
On 2 December, 2007, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi had a meeting with P. Waytha Moorthy of HINDRAF and was briefed on the various types of discrimination and alleged state violence the Indian Community was facing in Malaysia. The Chief Minister while expressing concern had told HINDRAF representative that he would take up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The issue came up again during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2008 celebrations at New Delhi from 07 to 09 January, 2008. The reported freeze on Indian workers by a Malaysian cabinet order was also raised. Mr. Samy Vellu, Works Minister for Malaysia who was a special invitee, denied these reports. However, the other Indian expatriates from Malaysia gave vent to their feelings and blamed Samy Vellu for the “serious plight” of the Indians.
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)
The MIC, the leading political party of the ethnic Indians and a constituent of the ruling coalition government since independence, does not have much political clout and has failed to improve the lot of the Indians over these years.
Datuk Seri Samy Vellu is the President of MIC since 1979. The MIC is more like a one man army and he is running it as his fiefdom. The constitution of the party has been amended suitably to suit his requirements and he has ruthlessly dealt with his Deputy/ Vice Presidents who had tried to unseat him.
It also suits the Malaysian Government to have him at the top as he is very pliable and happy with the Government policies towards Indians as long as he continues to be the sole Indian Minister at the cabinet level.
Consequent to this HINDRAF rally, which was an yet another wake-up call for the party, he announced that the party is to be revamped to make it more effective and efficient in meeting the needs of the Indians. A look at the various blogs in the Malaysian websites, in response to this announcement, indicates that the views were almost unanimous in that the revamping should start from the top and that he should step down. It is a pity that the Indian Government is honouring him and invites him regularly for meetings of the Indian Diaspora, giving little chance or encouragement to other aspiring leaders.
Conclusion
There is a significant and emergent need for a change in the leadership of the MIC to take up the cause of the Indians, to get them their due rights free from racial discrimination and have full access to jobs and education at least within the quotas allotted.
Since the Indian political institutions are weak, there is a need for the NGOs (such as the HINDRAF), social and cultural institutions to get together and forge a single identity to embark upon an action plan to have a definite impact on the Government.
Undue importance on religion, culture and vernacular (Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi) education has to be avoided, and priority given to education in English and Bahasa Malaysia and training in vocational and professional skills.
The affirmative action policy favouring the Malays has more than achieved its aim. The opposition parties have been asking for scrapping it. Hence, every opportunity to highlight the ill effects of this policy on the minorities has to be made in the local and international media.
Since the Indian Government has now started interacting with the Indian Diaspora on an yearly basis, special attention has to be focused on the Persons of Indian origin in Malaysia. More facilities especially in the field of education for the Malaysian Indians, through our professional colleges and IITs should arranged. Tamil Nadu can open its technical institutions on a priority basis.
The Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur can be made more interactive (within the confines of diplomacy) with ethnic Indians by putting in to effect some proposals earlier made for supporting Indian Minority Schools and flying in teachers from Tamil Nadu for teaching Tamil and English.
Consequent to the rally some multi racial political opposition parties are supporting the issues taken up by HINDRAF, much to the chagrin of the MIC and the ruling coalition.
The prospects for the Indian Community were never bright and the future does not seem to be any better. At best they may get a few sops this year (when general elections are likely to be held) to woo the Indian voters. The initiative will have to come from the community itself and it should no longer depend on their leaders who have let them down time and again.
source: South Asia Analysis Group
No comments:
Post a Comment