TwoSen

The Malaysian Indian community is at a crossroads. Opposition parties are fielding more Indian candidates in the coming general election to capitalise on the perceived anti-establishment sentiments triggered by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and the discontentment among Indians towards MIC, which may see a major swing of Indian votes to the opposition.

On the other hand the government understands the Indians’ grouses and grievances and has taken steps to address them. Better employment and business opportunities may also be in the pipeline for Indians. They may as well work within the system to negotiate a better deal for them. Indians must decide wisely.

The government took measures to uplift the socio-economic status of the Indian community and is even willing to work with MIC on a monitoring mechanism because MIC is still relevant in coalition government.

This may well be a turning point for the Malaysian Indians, if they unite and give their full support to Barisan Nasional, thereby giving MIC the political clout.

Being a minority community, every Indian vote is valuable and should translate into political clout. MIC is the sole representative for Indians in the government and we cannot abandon the party. Leaders may be changed. In 1969, when Umno was perceived to have failed, Malays did not abandon the party. In fact there was even greater awareness to strengthen Umno’s ruling power.

The Indians’ position is the same. They need a strong presence in the ruling coalition to serve their interests best.

Indians cannot have a credible opposition. No one can win an election just on an Indian ticket. In 1970, the Indian university intake dropped to 2% (when the New Economic Policy was launched) and, sandwiched between the two giants (Umno and MCA) Indians saw zero hope.

No opposition party was willing to take up the issue. It was MIC’s persistent effort and powerful lobbying of the government that gradually increased the Indian intake to around 8% (until meritocracy was introduced).

Opposition parties will only pursue an issue seriously if it is in the best interest of the communities that form their support base. They have never fought for Indians’ interests.

If the opposition parties succeed they celebrate and Indians will be the losers. Indians must not become traitors to their own community by being instrumental to splitting their votes.

If MIC is weakened to the extent that it becomes irrelevant in the coalition government, Indians too will become irrelevant. It will be Malay, Chinese and others.

Indians are not economically strong and self-reliant like the Chinese to have the luxury of voting for the opposition. What they need is an NGO to pursue their issues as well as to monitor MIC, highlighting its shortcomings and failures.

This should work effectively so long as they do not invite trouble by taking up sensitive issues like Malay rights and use such terms as “ethnic cleansing”.

Indians must bear in mind that it was the failure of opposition parties to bring up Indian issues that prompted Hindraf to bring up these issues, although its confrontational approach and some of its allegations were wrong.

It is foolish to think that Indians can teach the ruling party a lesson by voting for opposition parties. According to the political analyst Baradan Kuppusamy, who wrote in the Star on Feb 21, a counter reaction from other races is already visible and Malay and Chinese voters may turn out in large numbers to erase the gains to the opposition from Indians.

In Malaysian politics, it is not uncommon for Malaysians to abandon their traditional support to opposition parties and swing towards the ruling party in order to strengthen their communities’ bargaining power.

It is especially relevant now as the government is talking about of equitable distribution of opportunities among all races. If this happens, it will be “the end” for Indians. So think smart. Don’t be blinded by emotions.

MIC must play a direct role in bringing about social transformation so that the community is well equipped to avail the social and economic opportunities generated by the private and government sectors.

MIC’s best option, in this respect, would be to seek the support of volunteer groups (VG) within the community, comprising of educated Indians.

Among others, VGs will organise awareness programmes on education, jobs, trade opportunities and the government’s poverty reduction programs etc; educational programs to improve students’ performance; job and trade skills training programmes as well as handle other social and economic issues such as welfare aid etc., thereby laying a strong foundation of self-help within the community. A network of influential Indians and those with talents/skills will be established to draw support from the community.

Support can also be sought from relevant government and private institutions. Increased transparency in MIC may attract financial contributions from the community for its projects. Ultimately it is through self-help and self-reliance that the community can live in dignity.

Perhaps it is time to consider setting up an Indian Economic Congress, where we can freely discuss/review our successes, achievements, failures, opportunities, challenges, feedbacks, ideas, future strategies and actions etc.

Kanna Chennasamy
Seri Kembangan

Source: The Sun – February 25, 2008

The Malaysian Indian community is at a crossroads. Opposition parties are fielding more Indian candidates in the coming general election to capitalise on the perceived anti-establishment sentiments triggered by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and the discontentment among Indians towards MIC, which may see a major swing of Indian votes to the opposition.

On the other hand the government understands the Indians’ grouses and grievances and has taken steps to address them. Better employment and business opportunities may also be in the pipeline for Indians. They may as well work within the system to negotiate a better deal for them. Indians must decide wisely.

The government took measures to uplift the socio-economic status of the Indian community and is even willing to work with MIC on a monitoring mechanism because MIC is still relevant in coalition government.

This may well be a turning point for the Malaysian Indians, if they unite and give their full support to Barisan Nasional, thereby giving MIC the political clout.

Being a minority community, every Indian vote is valuable and should translate into political clout. MIC is the sole representative for Indians in the government and we cannot abandon the party. Leaders may be changed. In 1969, when Umno was perceived to have failed, Malays did not abandon the party. In fact there was even greater awareness to strengthen Umno’s ruling power.

The Indians’ position is the same. They need a strong presence in the ruling coalition to serve their interests best.

Indians cannot have a credible opposition. No one can win an election just on an Indian ticket. In 1970, the Indian university intake dropped to 2% (when the New Economic Policy was launched) and, sandwiched between the two giants (Umno and MCA) Indians saw zero hope.

No opposition party was willing to take up the issue. It was MIC’s persistent effort and powerful lobbying of the government that gradually increased the Indian intake to around 8% (until meritocracy was introduced).

Opposition parties will only pursue an issue seriously if it is in the best interest of the communities that form their support base. They have never fought for Indians’ interests.

If the opposition parties succeed they celebrate and Indians will be the losers. Indians must not become traitors to their own community by being instrumental to splitting their votes.

If MIC is weakened to the extent that it becomes irrelevant in the coalition government, Indians too will become irrelevant. It will be Malay, Chinese and others.

Indians are not economically strong and self-reliant like the Chinese to have the luxury of voting for the opposition. What they need is an NGO to pursue their issues as well as to monitor MIC, highlighting its shortcomings and failures.

This should work effectively so long as they do not invite trouble by taking up sensitive issues like Malay rights and use such terms as “ethnic cleansing”.

Indians must bear in mind that it was the failure of opposition parties to bring up Indian issues that prompted Hindraf to bring up these issues, although its confrontational approach and some of its allegations were wrong.

It is foolish to think that Indians can teach the ruling party a lesson by voting for opposition parties. According to the political analyst Baradan Kuppusamy, who wrote in the Star on Feb 21, a counter reaction from other races is already visible and Malay and Chinese voters may turn out in large numbers to erase the gains to the opposition from Indians.

In Malaysian politics, it is not uncommon for Malaysians to abandon their traditional support to opposition parties and swing towards the ruling party in order to strengthen their communities’ bargaining power.

It is especially relevant now as the government is talking about of equitable distribution of opportunities among all races. If this happens, it will be “the end” for Indians. So think smart. Don’t be blinded by emotions.

MIC must play a direct role in bringing about social transformation so that the community is well equipped to avail the social and economic opportunities generated by the private and government sectors.

MIC’s best option, in this respect, would be to seek the support of volunteer groups (VG) within the community, comprising of educated Indians.

Among others, VGs will organise awareness programmes on education, jobs, trade opportunities and the government’s poverty reduction programs etc; educational programs to improve students’ performance; job and trade skills training programmes as well as handle other social and economic issues such as welfare aid etc., thereby laying a strong foundation of self-help within the community. A network of influential Indians and those with talents/skills will be established to draw support from the community.

Support can also be sought from relevant government and private institutions. Increased transparency in MIC may attract financial contributions from the community for its projects. Ultimately it is through self-help and self-reliance that the community can live in dignity.

Perhaps it is time to consider setting up an Indian Economic Congress, where we can freely discuss/review our successes, achievements, failures, opportunities, challenges, feedbacks, ideas, future strategies and actions etc.

Kanna Chennasamy
Seri Kembangan

Source: The Sun – February 25, 2008