a Malaysia for Malaysians

Malaysian Indian and Way Forward.

Malaysians have delivered their wishes for changes through the 12^th General Election and a few other by-elections results after that. This fact was further emphasised by the Pakatan Rakyat’s victory in Bukit Selambau where 30% of voters are of Indian ethnic origin.  The claim by MIC that Indians have returned to Barisan Nasional has clearly been proven to be false. In fact, their indirect strategy by placing a record number of ‘Independent Candidates’ itself only managed to ‘steal’ some 1500 votes away.

The fact that Indians continue to rally behind Pakatan Rakyat is in itself a sign demanding that the ruling   coalition do not to forget their responsibilities towards them. Though we champion the cause of   Malaysia for all Malaysians, but policies to reinforce these commitments towards non Malays in general and Indians in particular in states ruled by Pakatan Rakyat or otherwise is yet to be a reality.

The problem of Malaysian Indians lies not only in Temple demolishment and Tamil Schools. It goes deeper into their dignity of being a Malaysian of Indian origin with a rich culture and future of their generations in years to come.

Indians have been classified as notorious Gangsters who frequently end up committing cheap minor crimes or violent crimes as an act of revenge among themselves as way to proof their prestigious achievement. The authorities particularly the Police force takes advantage of this situation to merely fulfil their quotas by piling all unsolved cases onto them.

The Police show their real colours when they protest in accepting alleged crimes filed against them. “Who cares, its’ another unwanted Indian” that’s the attitude of the Attorney General’s chamber who seem to prefer to protect criminals in uniform rather than championing the public.

Some of us could probably remember the TV series of Kunta Kente showing the suffering of African salves in a foreign land.  It’s may not be wrong to call this kind of act as the Knowledge Era Kunta Kente.

The Federal Government under the rule of Barisan Nasional still is in a state of denial of the fact that Indian Marginalisation had occurred in Malaysia for the last 52 years of their administration. Instead they try to bribe the community with merely a RM85 million allocation that was hand over by the then Deputy Prime Minister. Just RM85 million (or 0.03%) out of RM267 billion Federal Budget and Stimulus Packages!

The core problems that the Malaysian Indians are currently facing can only be solved by:

• Government Policies and Assistance

• By the community themselves

Rules of Engagement psp

Government Policies and Assistance

Though urging the Barisan Nasional leaders to listen to our outcry is like “dogs barking towards hill”, but it is my believe that, as the next general election approaches, they will  throw some token ‘goodies’ piece by piece to satisfy the community.

As soon as Datuk Seri Najib took over the Premiership, his first step was to get back the supports of the Chinese community. This can clearly be seen by his visit to a leading Chinese Press office and participation in dialogue with Chinese business associations. The most important game he played was by maintaining the Chinese quota of 4 Ministerial Post and an additional Deputy Ministers Post for MCA. In order for Barisan Nasional to rule comfortably, support of the Chinese community is very much essential.  If he manages to gain their support, then Indians unfortunately, will continue to be Barisan Nasional’s victims.

The strategy is somehow similar to Tun Dr. Mahathir’s plan of ‘stealing’ some economic share from the Chinese Business community for the Malays only but in the end the victims were the Indians. Barisan Nasional leaders will never listen to MIC or any other Indian based parties or organisations as their key aim remains gaining at least 50% of the Malay support and some 50% of Chinese support coupled with the support of the East Malaysian Natives. Thus, Indians will never be in Barisan Nasional’s agenda as long as they remain in power.

In actual fact Mahathir, being half Indian, betrayed the community by putting the blame on his Mandore. Most probably because of his anger towards his paternal family members and in his eagerness to portrait himself as true Malay, he betrayed his own race and cheated the Malays, along the way, by not disclosing his true identity.  He betrayed Malaysia’s founding Father, third and fifth Malaysian Prime Ministers in order to achieve his ambition.

The only way for us to move forward is through Economic enrichment. Let the community move forward with support from Pakatan Rakyat ruled State Governments.  Indians mainly reside along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia with majority concentration in Selangor, Perak, Penang and Kedah.  I would like to urge the state governments of Selangor and Penang to take the lead in targeting Indian economic participation of at least 15% by year 2020.  Allow more open participation in local government projects, State government projects and businesses with government linked companies.

State Governments should also seriously study possibilities of allocating financial assistance for Indian owned businesses that has growth potentials. Alternatively, more opportunities could be given for Malaysian Indians to be placed under the State Government Linked Company’s purview and mentoring scheme. It could be better if Selangor, Penang and Kedah jointly setup an Institution to support entrepreneurial acumen.

Micro credit financing for small businesses coupled with training and guidance will assist those from the lower levels to move upwards towards the next level of social status.

Beside economic encouragement, the PR Government should also assist the community in providing more higher education opportunities. Selangor for instance has Universiti Industri Selangor and  Inspen International College.

State Government’s may also allocate educational assistance for Indians to pursue their studies in critical sectors such as Medicine, Engineering, Law, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at overseas educational institutions. Malaysia, as a nation, will be the loser in the end by neglecting such brilliant students irregardless of races.

Vernacular schools particularly Tamil schools are still very much backward. Whatever facilities been left behind by the Colonial Masters are still being used or is in even worse condition than it was before independence. The prime reason given by the former Governments in neglecting them was due to the illegal status of the land or the land being not owned by the respective schools.  Thus, I urge the PR state governments to speed up legalisation of such lands while in the schools, Parents and Teachers Association could find ways to get appropriate monetary allocation from the Ministry of Education.

I suggest the same for issues affecting places of worship. We have already lost more than a year in stabilising the state governments and politicking against the opponents. Time is now ripe for the PR state governments to perform what been preached prior and during the last General Election. The more we drag on this issue, the faster the PR governments will fall into the red alert zone.

My suggestions are not only limited to Indians but for all Malaysians. However I would like to seek cooperation from the Pakatan Rakyat state governments to allow extra participation of Indians, who are Malaysians too, to enable the community, who been treated as ‘slaves’ to move forward at much faster speed.

By the Community Themselves.

Historically Indians achieved civilization much earlier than others. This can be proved by the existence of the Bujang Valley, for instance, right here in Malaysia. Even Malacca was founded by a Hindu Prince, Parameswara, who originated from India. Just for the record the name Parameswara means King of the Universe.

Majority of Indians in Malaysia was brought in by the British as cheap labour to open up forest for rubber plantations, to build roads and rail systems. In order to overcome fatigue of hardwork , “Samsu” a type of illicit Indian liquor was supplied by the colonial masters. It was also a means to easily manage these hardcore Indians. The practice continues despite Malaysia achieving Independence. This is a sad case due to the fact that Plantations comes under our own Federal Government’s control.

• Brick Lane buy

Indians in plantations were segregated in groups and provided with basic amenities such as housing, supplied with rain water, places of worship and basic education for their children.  Basically, they grew up in very rough environment.

Exceptionally despite this tough situations, some parents with foresight and fortitude to provide a better future their children, managed to send their children abroad, mainly to India, to pursue Medical or Legal education, which conveniently Mahathir had claimed as his government’s victory. Just ask him how many scholarships he has approved for Indians to study Medicine, Law or Engineering while he sat on the Prime Minister’s seat. He has nothing to be proud of, since it is entirely the effort of the individual parents. Neither Mahathir nor Samy Velu can claim any credit for this parents sacrifices.

In order for Malaysian Indians to progress further, the same level of sacrifice is imperative.

Put a side the thousands of dollars spend in supporting the beer and liquor companies which do nothing for Indians in Malaysia. If these companies are able to contribute millions in sponsoring cultural events, sports and build schools for others, why not allocate a portion for Tamil schools? How much have these beer or even cigarette companies in Malaysia given for the Indian community’s development over the last 52 years. What’s more disappointing is that even well educated professionals are addicted towards these substances.

Let’s boycott these selfish beer, liquor and tobacco companies.

For the next 5 years, work together with the Pakatan Rakyat State Governments in uplifting our community either religiously, culturally, educationally, politically or economically.

Use the time spend sitting gossiping or wasted socialising by adopting one child from any nearby Tamil schools. Provide them extra work books, send him/her to learn cultural dance or classical music or sponsor a computer and teach them how to find good information from the internet.

Alternatively form informal groups in conducting free tuition classes, free health checks, teach Thirukural or preach the Bhagavad Gita or religious knowledge .

You may also work with your respective elected representatives in assisting those without valid identification documents by getting them this all important documents. Assist them to identify temples or schools that are facing problems by preparing necessary documents so that they may able to carry out their duties effectively.

I also call upon Business Magnates and successful entrepreneurs to recruit eligible Indians into their organisations.  What is the use of being the richest man but unable to assist his own kind? Break away from the walls and chains that prevent you from uplifting your own community.  Give a chance to fellow Indian businessmen to participate together with you. If he or she is under qualified, teach or guide so that they too in turn will one day be able to help a few more.

Compared to others in Malaysia, we Indians only have a handful of successful business tycoons to help pull hundreds of thousands of young and energetic Indians to achieve their dreams. They were thrown in rough seas, and if you don’t lend your hand now, entire generations will be lost.  If you can pull 5 or 10 of them, they may able to pull hundreds and followed by thousands.

Beside forming social groups, we should seriously look into starting Business Entities that are able to secure projects from aboard, particularly from India. As Indian economy is booming, their needs for infrastructures are booming too. The Indian government through its Indian Overseas Affairs Ministry are welcoming people of Indian origin to participate in projects offered by them.

download The Ordinary Radicals

While, we show our eagerness in economic development, unity should always be preserved. We Malaysian Indians should avoid killing among ourselves and fighting each other. Temples remain the main problem here, where when there are differences among the committees, it results in another temple being built within days or preventing existing temple from performing.

Some Tamil school Headmasters, being hardcore supporters of MIC, are willing to gamble away the future of our generation by not allowing schools PTA to perform. Funds allocated by State Government be it Pakatan or Barisan which is rightfully ours, why are they rejecting it?  Please leave your political hats out of the schools.

If we can remain united for the next 5 years, as we showed on Nov 25, 2007 the progress of our society in terms of economy, culture, education and religion will be a model for others too.

John Tucker Must Die rip

Valga Makkal Sakthi.