‘Don’t take Indians for granted’

An Indian business leader says that the Indian community's votes should not be taken for granted as they are more aware of their rights now.

PETALING JAYA: The Barisan Nasional should not take the Indian comnmunity or any other  communities for granted.

Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar said the Indians turned their backs against the BN because they are more aware of their rights.

Sivakumar said the Indians do not want handouts but equal opportunities.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had referred to the Indian community as a “fixed deposit” to BN until 2008, in his speech at the MIC annual general assembly.

“But in the 12th general election, the Indian fixed deposit moved from the BN bank to the opposition bank.

“Maybe our interest rates were not good in 2008 for the Indian fixed deposit votes but over the last three years I have raised the interest rates and they are making a comeback to the BN bank. The confidence on the BN government is back,” Najib was reported saying.

His speech drew flak from various leaders including Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga.

Sivakumar said that although Najib has done considerably good work in addressing Indian’s plight, the government is still oblivious on what the community really need.

“Give us equal opportunity. All the community wants is to be treated fairly and with some respect,” he said .

He said that over the years, many Indians were forced out of estates in the name of development but the government did not provide any support to them, forcing the community to fend for themselves.

By being displaced, Sivakumar added, had also caused many Indians to become stateless, as some could not even afford the minimum fee to get their birth certificates and MyKads.

“On top of that, the National Registration Department (NRD) makes stringent rules to make their lives miserable but at the same time, they relax rules for foreigners to get citizenship.

“This has made a lot of Indians to be deprived in many ways. Government agencies refused to help them and for decades, the community was humiliated.

“It’s the bottled up anger and frustration that resulted in the 2007 Hindraf rally,” said Sivakumar.

He urged the government to come up with a long term plan to uplift the Indian community instead of merely dishing out goodies and handouts during festivals.

He also said that the government should empower the community by giving them more education and economic opportunities.

“But Umno has not changed. Till today, they are still talking about handouts and goodies. To me, it’s nothing but a great sin.

“That’s why PAS’ promise to treat everyone equally, under their welfare state programme, sounds more appealing to the community,” said Sivakumar.