A friend of mine responded to my last write up titled “Deputy Prime Minister insults Malaysian Indians” by saying that he agrees with what I wrote. He then posed a question as to “what policies do Pakatan Raykat propose to help Indians left way behind by the BN government?
He added that the Indian Tamils themselves too, ask the same. If PR does not address this question, Indian Tamils might not vote in the same way as they did in 2008. He, being a social scientist and researcher from a university, I always value and respect his feedback.
PR’s Indian leaders need to address these belligerent thoughts among some section of Indian community. PR’s action plan is found in the Buku Jingga which is the common policy platform. Their policies are based on four primary goals and principles:
1 A transparent and true democracy to reflect and empower the supremacy of the rakyat;
2 A dynamic and sustainable economy to provide prosperity and social welfare to all;
3 Social justice to ensure the complete development of rights and respect for human dignity;
4 Federal-State and foreign policies that are based on principles of fairness and justice.
Unlike the BN whose common policy platform is based on article 153(1)(2) and the so called social contract, PR is all for a two party political system and not the present one Malay party political dominance.
PR’s agenda is to reinvigorate the nation’s economic prospects and offer inclusive growth by the distribution of the nation’s wealth based on social justice and fairness. To achieve prosperity through a Fairer Distribution of Income, PR proposes using household income targets; targets that will directly impact hundreds of thousands of Malaysian families earning less than RM1,500 per month.
PR proposes to continue non-discriminatory direct assistance schemes for the rakyat as a means of equitable wealth redistribution.
Having said all the above, I do understand that Malaysian Indians are worse off economically and mentally weak due to the years of alienation. They need affirmative action. PR leaders are well aware of the situation. This is where the community leaders need to engage with PR leaders.
Immediately after the March 2008 General Election, I was campaigning in a by election in Pahang along with PKR/PAS Malay leaders. They did not know how poor Indians were until they came to the estates. I feel the Malays generally did not know our difficulties because the present political system is race based where Indian problems are outsource to MIC, Chinese problem is outsourced to MCA and the government will take care of Malay problem.
MIC and MCA were given some pittance to take care of their respective communities. It was not like all three communities were wanting to resolve our problems and move forward together. We have traveled the racial path for 54 years. We are deep inside and to come out takes some time.
The current incompetent bureaucracy has to be rehabilitated. How can the Indian community help whichever government, so that they help them instead? The Indian community can only work with the political party that believes in mutual benefit. Umno has become arrogant, corrupted and out of touch with reality. Even a large section of Malays do not support Umno.
Now having turned against Umno led BN, do we want to go back? The Prime Minister gives out cash to some elite groups like the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Divine Life Society, Temple of Fine Arts, Malayalee association, Sikh association; Telegu association, etc. But has he brought about any change in policy to uplift the Indians in urban ghettos?
Are more job opportunities in civil services and GLCs, scholarships, business opportunities in government and GLC sectors provided in the aftermath of 2008? With all the media hype about MyDaftar Scheme, only 1,800 out 100,000 Red ICs/birth certificate plagued Malaysian Indians, received their blue ICs – three years after March 2008. Through MIC the government is freely giving out hampers worth RM20/30 each during by elections and Deepavali festivals.
For the information of Malaysian Indians, there is no policy change till now. The Prime Minister is saying some feel good words to Indian dominated shopping areas and at religious functions. Umno, with the Prime Minister, is the wooing of Indian community.
They are, in fact, cheating Malaysian Indians by making us feel good and feel wanted. Umno is through and through a racist party.
You can’t talk to Umno anymore because Perkasa will reply. That is the state of our political scence. Umno is willing to ditch the Indians and Chinese if they can get solid Malay support.
Umno has created Perkasa as a bogeyman to ward of any demands from non Malays. The cow head incident in Shah Alam and the introduction of Interlok book, despite protest from Malaysian Indians, shows Umno cares a dam for what Malaysian Indians want. In racial politics, minorities lose out and majority takes all. Why do we want to keep going back to the same regime that made us beggars?
They made us beggars with our blessing. My suggestion is the Malaysian Indians have to change a racial and corrupted government which openly has said many times that they don’t need Indian votes and that Malaysian Indians can go back to India. Whether PR offers anything or not we still have to get rid of Umno-BN. If Malaysian Indians keep voting for opposition, the subsequent governments will be more multi racial in their governance.
The Indian community has created the political space in 2008 for MIC to demand what the Indian community needs. But these MIC leaders, being subservient far too long to Umno, dare not ask anything that displeases Umno. The 2008 election results showed that being minority is not an issue to bring about change. Malaysian Indians must make themselves political relevant and not blindly support BN candidates who will work against Indian Interests.
March 2008 brought about radical a change in Malaysian politics among all communities. We must move forward and work together with other communities and make Malaysian politics more inclusive. If that does not happen, move forward and change to a more inclusive party and not go back to Umno.
The only place suitable for Umno is the dustbin. For that to happen we must work with the moderate Malays who support Malaysian interests and not Malay interest. Indians cannot bring change by themselves alone. It has to be together with other communities.
The Chinese community is realising that their number one enemy is Umno. To get rid of Umno they are willing to work with PAS.
Nothing is written in stone. The community leaders have to act decisively and in the larger interest. So friends, what can the Indians do to bring about these changes?
This letter is penned on behalf of Senator S Ramakrishnan
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