The Indian vote in GE-13: Time-bomb for Pakatan or the community itself?

The Human Rights Party has demanded that Pakatan Rakyat gives up 7 parliamentary and 16 state assembly seats for it to contest in the general election. Protem secretary P Uthayakumar has threatened that unless Pakatan concedes to their demands, at least 10,000 Indians will protest outside the PKR headquarters.

The public reaction towards HRP’s demands is nothing short of ‘amazement’! How can the HRP choose to arm-twist PR into conceding strategic parliament and state seats to a political party with no track record? Also, why doesn't it do the same to BN?

Took the community and Malaysia by storm

Hindraf has been fighting for Indian rights since its inception in 1990, and HRP was announced in 2009 as a political party. Since the last election where BN lost their two thirds majority, Hindraf had never failed to claim credit for Pakatan Rakyat’s success.

Because of its Indian-centric approach, the party is largely shunned or ignored by the non-Indians in this country. Neither is there much sympathy for Hindraf and its cause from the general population.

HRP, as a political party fighting for Indian rights, should be more reasonable if it wants to be taken seriously and not dwindle into the same comical status of groups like Perkasa or even Pembela. Pakatan Rakyat according to its Buku Jingga blueprint is a multiracial alliance, fighting for the rights of Malaysians, and not just for one particular community.

HRP's political cause does not fit in with Pakatan’s framework, and since its application to contest in the polls has been rejected, it should accept the reality that it needs to compromise if it wants to join Pakatan or BN for that matter. Otherwise, remain independent and be patient like PSM too had to wait years before finally getting the green light.

HRP cannot hope to lean on Pakatan for political support or leverage. However, it can consider working with Pakatan to win in the next election. Should Pakatan be successful in marching to Putrajaya, HRP stands to gain politically with a representation in the government. Later, it can work out a formula with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and team to contest in the next polls.

Indians are marginalized, so are many others

But it is truly exasperating to continue delving on the plight of the Indians. It is not the only race that has been marginalized. The majority of the Malays are marginalized and even the so-called rich Chinese are not excluded as well. The plight of the races simply does not come into play.

Pakatan’s stand is to help everyone who is in need irrespective of skin color. If Uthayakumar cannot see eye to eye on that, then HRP has to find its own Plan B.

It really doesn’t help to constantly make unrealistic demands or to threaten the Pakatan. “10,000 people will demonstrate at the PKR headquarters if our demands are not met.” Does that make any sense?!

Has Hindraf ever considered approaching BN to demand for those seats, since they are so sure of making an impact in those constituencies? Perhaps, BN may be more accommodating as they are race based parties unlike Pakatan.

The Indian dilemma, and there is one, cannot be solved overnight by any party. The MIC had 50 years to do this but they failed. Short of giving them USD1 million each, there is no way that any party can show immediate result over the issue.

Hindraf has already a tremendous job in rousing the Indian community and creating awareness. It can do more by continuously raising funds, identifying poor students and according them scholarships, and donating to the needy Indians. Even the established parties have to keep doing this because there will always a marginalized group amongst the rest of the population.

The trick is, how to motivate more and more of this group to stop self-pitying themselves and also, how to force the other communities to give some space to them? Not at all easy but to behave like a Bollywood hero and begin with threats is not the best way.

Uthaya's laundry list

It is also unlikely with Uthayakumar playing the race and religion card, non-Indians would sympathize with Hindraf and vote them in. Even with maximum votes from the Indians themselves it will not ensure a victory in those constituencies.

Many Indians are themselves fed up with Uthaya’s inconsistent demands, which are clouded by his myopic view of Indian issues and his over-sized ego. Tamil schools and temples alone are not going to feed the Indians or make them successful in the future. The Chinese MCA better take note of this fact too!

Uthayakumar said the party came to this decision after Pakatan refused to have any dealing with HRP. Speaking at a recent forum and fund-raising dinner at Sitiawan, he said HRP would be contesting in seven parliamentary and 16 state seats in Indian-based constituencies.

The seven parliamentary seats are Padang Serai (Kedah), Batu Kawan (Penang), Ipoh Barat (Perak), Kota Raja (Selangor), Teluk Kemang (Negri Sembilan), Cameron Highlands (Pahang) and Tebrau (Johor).

The 16 state seats are Bukit Selambau and Lunas (Kedah), Prai and Bagan Dalam (Penang), Buntong and Hutan Melintang (Perak), Port Dickson and Jeram Padang (Negri Sembilan), Tanah Rata and Ketari (Pahang), Puteri Wangsa and Tiram (Johor) and Sri Andalas, Ijok, Seri Setia and Bukit Melawati (Selangor).

Uthayakumar also said HRP is eyeing four state seats in Selangor because one-third of the Indian population in Malaysia lives in Selangor.

“In the last general election, we gave Pakatan a chance, where for the first time BN lost its two-third parliament majority and lost control of five states, but Pakatan failed to address the problems faced by the Indian community. So, this time Hindraf would not give a ‘blank check’ and make the same mistakes. Our demand is very simple. Let’s work together and vote Umno out,” he added.

He also said political analysts have predicted that the Indian votes would swing back to BN, which would not happen if the Pakatan leaders had "looked into the problems of the Indian community in the first place.”

Race-championing cuts like a double-edged sword

But, with the jostling of seats amongst the Pakatan parties already at a boil, it is unlikely that HRP’s demands will be met at all. HRP should rate its chances to go with the BN or continue to support the Pakatan but without its demands. Should it choose the former, HRP could contest in every MIC constituency where it has an equal chance of success.

Although, the general public has much admiration for Uthayakumar and the other Hindraf leaders, he needs to be realistic. Arm twisting won’t lead anyone anywhere!

Also, the tactics adopted Perkasa has not only created a barrier amongst the Malays for the non-Malays, but the non-Malays too have reacted by having a poor impression of the Malays. Same thing goes with Uthaya's Indian-championing tactics. Not only does it the Indians more aware of themselves as a community, it makes the other races more wary about them.

Think carefully, last chance is coming soon

Ideally, what happens to the Indians, the Penans, and all other marginalized groups in the country, their dilemma should be the rest of the nation's dilemma. The Indian cause should be the Malaysian cause. This is something for the community and Uthayakumar to think about as the day to the 13th general election nears.

The Indians are not the only Kingmakers, but the Chinese too hold pivotal votes. If both Kingmakers decide to split - Indians for BN and Chinese for Pakatan, the winners will not even be the Malays, but the Umno elite who will continue to enrich themselves. And this why many in the Indian community along some Chinese and a lot in the Bumiputera communities remain poor, decade after decade.

- Malaysia Chronicle