‘Empower’ the MIC president

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has been urged to give G Palanivel an Indian affairs portfolio to ensure that he can bring positive changes for the community.

PETALING JAYA: After more than three decades, the Indian representative in Barisan Nasional has been given an additional minister’s post, drawing both bouquets and brickbats.

Those in favour argued that the elevation of MIC president G Palanivel into the Najib administration’s inner circle was a blessing for the Indian community, given that it now had two voices in the Cabinet, the other being party number two Dr S Subramaniam.

Detractors however panned the appointment as a waste of taxpayers’ money, especially since Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, with Palanivel’s inclusion, had a record 39 ministers.

And while Subramaniam, one of three MIC parliamentary candidates who remained afloat after the 2008 electoral tsunami, oversaw the the human resources porfolio, Palanivel, one of those who drowned in the last polls, was sworn in as minister in the prime minister’s department yesterday but without a specific task.

‘Give him Indian portfolio’

This prompted MIC central working committee member S Vell Paari to call on Najib to empower the party president.

He said while the party was appreciative of the appointment, the move should however not be seen as a mere window dressing.

“The people will not fall for such gimmicks. The president has a vision and plan for the community but he needs the political muscle to push them through. He must be empowered,” he added.

Vell Paari said with the Malay votes split and the Chinese throwing their weight behind the opposition, BN had now realised the importance of Indian votes.

In view of this, he suggested that Palanivel be given an Indian affairs portfolio to ensure that all the socio-economic plans, strategies and promises for the community were implemented.

The Indian affairs portfolio, he added, must be on par with other ministries and be allowed to set up offices in various states to keep tabs on the development and progress of Indians there.

“When these offices are formed, Indians can be hired to oversee operations and this will indirectly increase the community’s presence in the civil service.

“Palanivel should also be given the authority to hire liaison officers to sit in critical ministries so that they can check on issues like the awarding of scholarships, issuing of birth certificates and identity cards, ensuring economic opportunities, resolving the high crime rate among Indian youths and other social ills as well as to address poverty-related matters and so forth,” he said.

Vell Paari noted that while the nation was moving into the era of multiracial politics, which he described as a positive development, he however added that the situation of Indians here still warranted special attention.

Giving Palanivel the required clout, he added, would also allow the MIC president to realise the nine resolutions passed by delegates during the party’s recent annual general meeting.

“Such a portfolio will also be in line with the prime minister’s stand that he represents all races and is sensitive to their suffering. The time of mere lip service and empty promises is over.

“The people want to see concrete action. Barisan Nasional must not take the Indian votes for granted and must remember what happened in 2008,” he told FMT.

Furthermore, Vell Paari said giving the MIC president this porfolio would silence the critics, who called the appointment meaningless, as well as give him the power to deal with sensitive issues.

“When there is an issue affecting the Malays, the government moves at the speed of light to resolve it. But when it comes to other races, there is a ‘United Nations-like’ discussion and feet dragging.

“But if Palanivel has this powerful portfolio tucked under his belt, then he can put his foot down hard and make demands,” he added.

‘A ladder is needed’

Agreeing with this, Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar said the MIC president’s appointment should not be a superficial attempt to garner votes.

“For a long time, Umno has not felt the pulse of the Indians in general. What the Indians want is to be treated as equals and this sentiment, which once only resonated among the more educated and urban Indians, has now trickled down to the grassroots as well. People have become more aware of their rights,” he said.

Sivakumar warned that while Indian votes were in favour of BN in the recent by-elections, a small spark, however, could rekindle what had happened in the last general election.

“To be fair, Najib has made some sincere efforts such as the issuing of micro-credit loans, MyKads and skills training. But there are bigger issues which still frustrate the Indians.

“For example, jobs in the civil service. It is shameful that even now MIC delegates must pass a resolution on this during their AGM. The awarding of government contracts is another sore point.

“Then there is the issue of poor wages for low-end jobs such as security guards and cleaners. These people are paid RM750 a month. How can they cope with the rising cost of living?” he asked.

Sivakumar said Miba supported Vell Paari’s call that a minister be assigned to handle the community, especially the poor Indians.

“The poor Indians have fallen so low that they need a ladder to come up. There are policies to help the majority but the minorities, especially the Indians, are worse off,” he said.

Sivakumar said one of the major problems that needed to be fixed was the civil service which still possessed, what he described as the “pendatang mindset”.

“They don’t see us as fellow citizens but rather immigrants squatting on this land.

“If the prime minister is sincere then he should give Palanivel the clout to deal with the arrogant civil service and ensure that what is decided higher up is implemented on the ground,” he added.