Samy, you can hurl all form of accusations at other leaders as much as you may wish. But at the end of the day, as claimed by you, the MIC represents the Indians in the ruling coalition called Barisan Nasional. Therefore, as the head of the MIC, you are seen to be their representative in the cabinet as well. Your input, I believe, leads to decisions for them. Thus it is you who has to be held accountable for the deplorable state the large majority of Indians in the country are in.
Barisan Nasional plays the racial political card. The Malays look to Umno for development, protection and recognition. Similarly, the Chinese see MCA as their vehicle while Gerakan maybe is another added vehicle for them. And MIC is seen as the party for the Indians within this coalition.
As president of MIC, you have continued to treat the IPF as an ‘outcaste’ ensuring that they get no recognition nor be made a member of the BN. The only reason is that you wanted to remain as the supreme political leader of the Indians. The presence of M Kayveas and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has become a challenge for you.
But the key question remains - what difference have you made being in the ruling party? The Tamil schools are in a shameful condition. Thousands of children of Indian origin are stateless. And hundreds are dropping out from school. If some children have come up, it is due to the hard work of the various independent community initiatives that have pooled together their efforts to provide free tuition and guidance.
The plantation workers do not even have a monthly wage. The crime rate among the Indians is very high indeed. The largest number of inmates in Simpang Renggam detention centre comprises Indians. The litany of negative indicators goes on. But you are aware of it. And yet have done little.
Irene Fernandez
Malaysiakini
