Hindraf – the saviour of Indians

Hindraf would only consider BN if its 18-point demands are met. Pakatan Rakyat, unlike BN, is like a piece of deadwood.

COMMENT

With immense dark clouds brewing over the whole country and Barisan Nasional stagnant in a deadlock, unable to move forward to reclaim its hereditary right to govern, it is certainly welcoming news that Hindraf may join forces with BN.

Since the lifting of the ban on Hindraf, which is not in anyway related to the coming general election, it would not be surprising if Hindraf would consider siding with BN as most Indians have predicted this move, based on BN’s immaculate past performance, especially on Indian affairs.

If it ever comes to pass, BN would have much to rejoice as an exuberant Hindraf would lead the way to knock down all the obstacles that are preventing BN from winning with a simple majority. A BN win would also ensure that Indian fortunes soar overnight and be on par with the privileged Malays in the country.

MIC, which was shell-shocked by its massive losses in the last election, no thanks to Hindraf’s ingenious mobilisation, would celebrate its good fortune to be able to work hand in hand with the gifted Hindraf.

Today, most in the MIC leadership are highly educated with long-term goals for the Indians. So a MIC-Hindraf cooperation would be a “wet dream” for the BN coalition and pave the way for 95% of Indians to return to the BN fold.

However, MIC would have to be constantly on its toes as Hindraf leaders are professional and not known to be nonsensical or accommodating.

Hindraf, however, would only consider BN if its 18-point demands are met. Pakatan Rakyat, unlike BN, is like a piece of deadwood. You cannot knock any sense into it even if you holler at the top of your voice into its ears.

Pakatan is also unlikely to recognise or reconsider Hindraf’s 18-points demand as it is more engrossed in a Malaysian Malaysia, fighting for a meritocratic society with equal rights for all. It simply has no room in its manifesto to accommodate and meet these demands which benefit only a particular race.

If anyone cares to read Hindraf’s 18-point demands, one can be assured that if its demands are met, it would lift the Indians to the ranks of the Umnoputras in the country.

Among the key demands are equal rights and opportunities for all Malaysians, which is rather flattering; but scrapping the special position of the Malays, which is enshrined in the Federal Constitution, would not go down well with the Malays and foreign immigrants like the Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos and Indonesian Muslims who share these same privileges as instant Bumiputeras when they were accorded citizenship.

Such a demand may scare the Malays and the instant citizens to shy away from BN.

Welcoming BN’s foresight to lift the ban

But the lifting of the ban shows that the government has realised Hindraf’s noble fight and is also a signal that it is willing to listen to Hindraf’s 18 demands and other demands from similar NGOs.

MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam said the move showed the government is being more liberal and tolerant, adding that many of Hindraf’s demands and issues pertaining to the Indian community were already handled by the government.

MIC said the lifting of the ban was good news for Hindraf as now, it has the opportunity to work together with the government; but it should be based on guidelines and regulations.

It is hinting that Hindraf can also work closely with MIC and BN like other NGOs, to strengthen Indian unity and work together for MIC’s nine parliamentary seats in the next general election.

PPP Youth chief Harridz Mohan said the lifting of the ban would give Hindraf freedom to air its views and that the move had nothing to do with the coming general election or gaining support from Indians as the majority were back to support the BN.

Harridz also said the two new political parties born out of the Hindraf movement, the Makkal Sakti and Human Rights Party Malaysia, were supporting the ruling coalition.

No turning back

Everything points to a BN victory, so it is obvious that Hindraf would want to reassess its support for a winning coalition which has the power to meet its “realistic” demands.

Many Indian supporters feel that Hindraf is doing the right thing as compared to 2008. Hindraf’s influence on the election would be a lot more influential than before and it remains today a potent force to be reckoned with.

It is no secret that Indians have more than a dozen parties in the country which are terribly split, with every Indian politician wanting to have a government post so that they can attend to the welfare of the poor Indians.

It is truly sad that Pakatan has failed to tap into Hindraf’s mighty political influence. All Hindraf wants is a couple of seats in Indian-majority areas so that it would have Indian representation in Parliament when the great day comes. Is that so hard for the Pakatan to accede or sacrifice for the Indian good?

As for Hindraf Youth leader S Thiagarajan, he is destined to be a very great and wise leader of the Malaysian Indians someday.

So it is without a doubt that the tables would be turned under Hindraf’s leadership, paving the way for BN to dismantle racist policies in Putrajaya and the Indians receiving their just and fair share of projects. Indians would finally be treated as equal citizens of this great country.

Many Indians, too, agreed that it would be plain stupid not to work with BN come this GE13 as 50 years of hardship have proven that it is either the BN dream or be doomed as second-class citizens under opposition rule.

Pakatan’s manifesto

Hindraf supremo P Waythamoorthy has accused Pakatan of completely ignoring the needs and interests of the Indian community in its election pledges.

“It is distressing to note that Pakatan’s so-called people’s manifesto has disappointed Indian Malaysians, as it has failed to acknowledge, let alone recognise, the community’s longstanding woes,” the Hindraf chairman said in a statement.

The problem with Pakatan’s manifesto is that it transcends racial groups as well as subgroups, including the Indian community. It covers everyone regardless of race and religion and no one would be excluded in the Pakatan’s grand design for the country.

It cannot be “race specific” as Hindraf would have want it.

It has promised to abolish the NEP, opening up the gates of opportunity for everyone to taste the economic pie. No one will be left behind, but everyone needs to queue in line. Impatience will not be tolerated and there will be no exclusivity for any particular race. The Bumiputeas are already seething in anger at such an outrage.

Waythamoorthy, meanwhile, wants exclusivity for the Indians, who he believes are so widely marginalised in comparison to the rest of the races, which includes the East Malaysians.

It is quite clear that a political organisation like Hindraf, which has mandated itself to represent the Indians, would have no place in Pakatan’s queer ideologies and stiff policies and should consider standing as Independents instead of cushioning up to either party.

The BN has shown its sincerity and willingness to accommodate Hindraf by lifting the ban, so Hindraf should waste no time and jump into the welcoming arms of the ruling coalition.

Remember, the force (Indians) is with you, and together with BN, the Indian plight would be eliminated in the blink of an eye after BN wins the election.

Meanwhile, Pakatan has basically missed the boat and a wonderful opportunity by stone-walling Hindraf.

Pakatan stands to lose the Indian vote en masse for such a blunder. Let Pakatan languish and lick its wounds later for snubbing Hindraf.

Tour consultant, sports pilot and naturalist Iskandar Dzulkarnain has been writing a few years now. He is a FMT columnist.