Siti Mariah, don’t take Hindraf for granted

Hindraf challenges PAS and Siti Mariah to oppose racist provisions in the constitution

Isn't PAS all about creating an Islamic state. How does PAS's Islamic agenda fit in a multi national and multi cultural society like Malaysia. She should perhaps attend a lesson on the true meaning of racial politics before she could come up with unwise allegations against Hindraf. 

Ramesh, Secretary Hindraf Makkal Sakthi 

We refer to an an online portal report that quoted PAS Kota Raja MP Dr Siti Mariah accusing Hindraf for fighting its cause on racial lines.

Hindraf views the statement by Kota Raja MP Dr  Siti Mariah seriously and warns PAS and all Pakatan leaders not to take Indian voters for granted. They should realise that Hindraf has opened the eyes of the Indian community on its democratic rights and the right to be represented in parliament. What Hindraf seeks for is equality in rights and dignity.

Dr Siti Mariah is immature and foolish to brand that Hindraf fights its cause on racial lines. She has to go to our website and see for herself how much of International and local campaign work we in Hindraf have done to make the world and Malaysians realise that Malaysia is a country implementing institutionalised racism. 

Hindraf challenges Dr Siti Mariah and her party to openly say that they would rid the most racist provision in the constitution and champion for equality for all Malaysian citizens. Hindraf also challenges Siti Mariah and her PAS to openly drop the Islamic state agenda. Isn't PAS all about creating an Islamic state. How does PAS's Islamic agenda fit in a multi national and multi cultural society like Malaysia. She should perhaps attend a lesson on the true meaning of racial politics before she could come up with unwise allegations against Hindraf.

We advise her to read on the International covenants which clearly gave rights for all ethnic communities to champion its own cause. This is an internationally recognised right and Siti Mariah and her likes are trapped in the Tuan/Towkay syndrome. They still believe that Indians could be enslaved into putting all their hopes (nambikei) in them.

Dr Siti has not to forget that she and many of her compatriots are in Parliament today because of Hindraf. She is now turning and biting the hand that has fed her – not a very good role model to start with. But think of the implications – of the 3 parties PAS stands to lose most if they antagonize the Indian voters. Comments like this against Hindraf is akin to antagonizing the Indian voter who is a substantial supporter of Hindraf’s platform. Just in Selangor, PAS stands to lose 4 parliament seats and 5 State seats that were won with slim majorities and where there are substantial Indian voters, should the tsunami reverse itself. That is only PAS and only in Selangor. Multiply it with all Pakatan seats and across the country and you can see the extent of the damage hostile and cavalier statements like this can cause.

What if Hindraf starts a campaign that PAS is no more than a Malay-Muslim party and it does not benefit  non-Malay, non-Muslims. Is that going to help PAS or her in her personal cause of retaining Kota Raja?

Even if we are to take her statement literally, can she name one issue that PAS has taken up recently seriously, to resolve the multifarious problems of the Indian community? How many times has PAS raised issues as it relates to the other races in the various halls of power. Indira Gandhi had her breast feeding baby removed from her on a religious tussle with her husband and the child was placed in an imam's house in Kelantan but this good Doctor did not find a space in her heart to speak out against the injustice perpetrated to another Indian.

Hindraf warns Pas or any other Pakatan leaders not to take Hindraf for granted. They must remember we fight a just cause without any need for political expediency. We urge Siti Mariah to apologize for her foolish remark.

The writer is secretary of Hindraf Makkal Sakthi