Should Pakatan accept Hindraf's olive branch?

'It is heartening to see that 'Hindraf wants fresh start with Pakatan to unseat BN' in GE13 instead of issuing threats of non-cooperation.'

Hindraf wants fresh start with Pakatan to unseat BN

Quigonbond: I think Hindraf's tone says it all - Pakatan Rakyat alone won't be able to unseat BN. Hindraf alone won't be able to unseat BN.

In another words, Hindraf thinks Pakatan and Hindraf are equal partners. Is that so? This kind of arrogant attitude is not constructive to begin a dialogue with Pakatan, and is certainly a turn towards the bad rather than good after Hindraf has offered an olive branch to Pakatan by helping PAS deputy president Mat (Mohamad) Sabu with evidence from UK over the Mat Indera issue.

Hindraf really has to stop making demands that are completely unrealistic. If Pakatan gives an ounce, will Hindraf ask for a pound? Where does it stop then?

Even assuming Hindraf gets more seats to contest, will it actually be able to win given Najib Razak's thrust for Indian votes? And is Hindraf helpful to overall Pakatan goals if they are going to play communal politics always?

It is important for Pakatan to take Putrajaya, but Pakatan must not abandon its principles.

Swipenter: Hindraf was taking too much credit for the outcome of 308 (March 8, 2008) elections result.

They were over ambitious post-308, too demanding and too impatient with Pakatan to right the wrongs and injustice of the past five decades the Indians endured under BN. They forgot that Pakatan was not the government of the day, so how can it solve the problems of the Indian community immediately?

It is heartening to see that 'Hindraf wants fresh start with Pakatan to unseat BN' in GE13 instead of issuing threats of non-cooperation.

Faz: To err is only human. But asking for a fresh start may need more than commitment. It must be seen to be sincere.

The preconditions and rhetoric of the past must be set aside and the reality of the accommodation should be weighed in correspondingly. One must come with open heart.

So far, Hindraf's analysis of the voting trend are done using past voting records but the fluidity of the voting pattern in the future is anybody's guest. Only with federal power, Pakatan can help all Malaysians to right the wrongs.

Good luck to those who dare to take this challenge. Not everyone will win, but most Malaysians will.

Temenggong: I studied the Hindraf voting analysis which is quite detailed, polling booth by polling booth. The analysis is sound and realistic. Without an outright Hindraf endorsement, Perak is 100% certain to go to BN.

In Selangor, Pakatan will lose between four to 17 seats in a 20% to 50% Indian voter swing, meaning even if Pakatan wins Selangor, which is unlikely, it will be a two-seat majority. In Kedah, it is 50-50 for BN/Pakatan.

If Pakatan has any cow sense, they better strike a deal with Hindraf. If Hindraf contests in the next general election, that would be the end of Pakatan, and PKR, PAS and DAP would remain isolated in Kelantan and Penang.

It is Pakatan's call. Is this what they want?

1Mandore: Hindraf once called Pakatan Indian leaders 'mandores'. Now Hindraf wants to go to bed with these mandores.

Ksn: After making the impact never seen in Malaysian politics, Hindraf has lost its direction and became a little arrogant.

Hindraf professes to represent only the Indians, probably only Hindus. Indians do not form a majority in any parliamentary or states seats, it should have dawn on them to affiliate with a party which is expected to address their demands - the Indian complaints which are genuine and are the doings of Umno and MIC.

But instead they started to demand seats for themselves. Probably now they realise their foolishness and are trying to come back to Pakatan.

If Pakatan works on poverty and backwardness of communities regardless of race, Indians will benefit.

Hello: The Pakatan coalition consists of PAS, DAP and PKR and these parties are non-racial in nature, although the individual parties are supported by mostly a main racial group.

Hindraf being a racial party for the Indians only, will find it conflicting with the ideals of Pakatan parties. They will be talking at cross purposes although both sides want to oust BN from government. This kind of cooperation is only temporary and eventually break asunder.

It will not be advisable to have Pakatan talk to Hindraf. Hindraf would be more suited to the BN model of racial parties. But the rakyat has already turned its back on racial parties. So working with Hindraf is a non-starter.

Lim Boon Heng: There is only one political movement that the government fears. So they are not allowed to register when 33,000 NGOs have done so. There is one movement which is deemed unlawful by the government. There is one movement whose leader is forced into exile and runs the movement from overseas.

Pakatan was formed after their big success. Today this movement is demonised by Pakatan. You decide, Pakatan. If you don't want their assistance, just have the courage to say so.

Anonymous: Pakatan must not work with a racist and arrogant party like Hindraf. With Hindraf, Pakatan may lose more votes.

Fairnessforall: At least now Hindraf knows that they need to make a stand to either support Pakatan or Umno. If they support Umno, the Indians are doomed and will continue to be marginalised as they were for the last 54 years.

Hindraf should understand that they have the support from only a small fraction of the Indian community, especially the less educated. Most of the educated Indians do not support Hindraf as it is seen more like a racist party.

I, an Indian, stopped supporting Hindraf when they started getting greedy and making big demands from Pakatan despite not having much support. The same with many of my other Indian friends and relatives.

Now if they are willing to work with Pakatan and stop making those ridiculous demands, perhaps the Indians may enjoy a better life should Pakatan win.

Rohan: PKR, this is a golden opportunity for you, so please grab it. Our main concern is to get rid of Umno and we know Hindraf is capable of doing that. I truly believe PKR, together with Hindraf, will create another tsunami in the coming election.

FairPlay: The success of a political coalition hinges on a give-and-take attitude. Hindraf-HRP (Human Rights Party) has extended an olive branch.

The least Pakatan can do is to meet them and listen to what they have to say. There is a saying, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'. No venture, no gain.

Cala: On the surface, at least Hindraf has put up some analysis to justify that its voice be heard. To me, if the analysis is sound, it will defy logic to brush it aside.

If there is anything of concern to Pakatan leadership, I guess it has to do with chemistry. Is the style of Hindraf palatable to the former?

As the saying goes, every politician has an ego which is sufficiently large to fill the banquet hall of the Shangri-la Hotel. If Hindraf is serious, please work together behind the scene.

Take this analogy: Pakatan is a spider, while Hindraf is a spider web. One cannot do without the other.