Indian community must go for change

There is also no reason why Indians who have stayed here for decades, speak BM and had contributed to the economic growth are denied citizenship, says Chua Jui Meng.

COMMENT

By Chua Jui Meng

Pakatan Rakyat is fully committed to ensuring that it is a warrior for all Malaysians. When Pakatan is given the mandate by the people to govern Malaysia after the next general election, it will be a government for all the people, irrespective of race.

Our commitment was displayed at the National Registration Department (NRD) in Putrajaya on Dec 12 that was disrupted by MIC gangsters.

Pakatan’s Malay, Chinese and Indian leaders and MPs from PKR, PAS and DAP supported the 1,000-people protest by stateless Indians who were born in Malaysia or had stayed in the country for decades.

As usual, the NRD director-general Jariah Mohd Said only had technical excuses for the problem.

We told her in no uncertain terms that all born in Malaysia are automatic citizens by operation of law and they must be granted citizenship with blue identity cards.

There is also no reason why Indians who have stayed here for decades, speak Bahasa Malaysia and had contributed to the nation’s economic growth are denied citizenship.

Why are foreigners like Bangldeshis, Pakistanis and Moros (from the Philippines’ Mindanao) who cannot even speak Bahasa Malaysia are given instant citizenship?

We demanded that the NRD resolve the plight of the stateless Indians in Malaysia quickly because the situation is unacceptable.

There was a case of a stateless Indian in his 80s who was asked by a NRD clerk to pay RM100 for an identity card. What’s this about?

There was also a case of a Perakian who alleged that the MIC demanded RM1,000 to have his identity card changed back to blue.

He had renewed his identity card but it was changed from blue to red for reasons only best known to the NRD.

Pakatan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has pledged that a Pakatan federal government would be administered with the principles of justice.

The Indian community must go for change in the next general election to ensure that their future is secure.

Only cronies make it big

After 55 years of the Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN), where are we socially and economically?

Even the majority of rural and urban Malays are suffering and living in poverty with rising cost of living.

Only Umno and BN leaders, their families and cronies are rich or super rich.

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s son, Mirzan bought controlling stakes in the world’s biggest beer brewer San Miguel of the Philippines and Petron, formerly Esso. How could Mirzan afford the purchases?

Another of Mahathir’s son, Mokhzani is the boss of Kencana Petrolium, another oil and gas industry player.

Mahathir, who is still influential in Petronas, is now trying to have his other son, Mukhriz, a deputy international trade and industry minister, installed as prime minister.

We and Malaysia will be sucked dry of our wealth if we do not stop Umno and its cronies.

Why is Singapore able to distribute annual cash payouts for its citizens but not Malaysia? That’s because Singapore does not privatise its projects while Malaysian projects are all privatised to benefit cronies.

The Indians can help change all these by giving Pakatan and Anwar the chance to implement all its people-centric policies to reform the government that truly serves all Malaysians and the country.

Chua Jui Meng is PKR vice-president and Johor state chief. He is also a former MCA vice-president and an ex-Cabinet member.