Deepak Jaikishan keeping the Indian flag flying
(Malaysian Digest) - The Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat (HKR112) assembly on Saturday may have been considered a success, questions have been raised regarding the low turnout by the Indian community.
The minimal involvement of the Indian community in HKR112 could be due to the perception that the event is skewed more towards PAS members and does not encompass all races, Universiti Sains Malaysia's deputy dean of the Social Sciences Faculty, Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said.
"This can serve as a lesson to the organizers to make sure that the issues raised are balanced out for everyone.
"It could also be due to the Indian community adopting a cautious approach. Some of them may feel that they have been used in previous rallies," the political analyst told Malaysian Digest today.
Underneath the cautious approach, Dr Sivamurugan said the Indian community's support towards the government has shown positive development, although not as a whole.
His opinion was echoed by another political analyst and economist, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnman, who said the Indian community could have "changed their mind" and have adopted a wait-and-see approach in the run-up to the 13th General Election.
"The Indian community feels that the steps adopted by the government could resolve their woes. For now, they are adopting a wait-and-see method; they are being patient as there are only a few months away till elections.
"They are smart, they will rise if any quarter does not provide equal treatment to them," said Ramon, who is also former Transparency International Malaysia president.
However, Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president, N. Surendran, begged to differ.
Surendran maintained that the Indian community is angry with the government for its failure to resolve their problems despite the country's comparatively small Indian population.
"It's absolutely untrue to say that the Indian community did not go down to the ground to support the assembly. Indians make up only seven per cent of the country's population.
"I personally observed many friends from the Indian community who showed up, and they are angry over issues such as lack of MyKad and birth certificates," he said.
Surendran's views, however, were challenged by MIC's P. Kamalanathan, who said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is sincere in helping the Indians in the country.
"MIC has also acted to meet the needs and resolve the Indian community's problems; we've fulfilled our responsibilities."
He believed that the low Indian turnout was due to distaste over the Opposition's overwhelmingly skewed perspective on issues.
Kamalanathan, who is also Hulu Selangor Member of Parliament, added that the assembly wasn't even necessary to begin with, as the assembly's list of demands has already been answered by the government, such as in the case of the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA).
"All they wanted to do was to organize a show of strength and support," he said.
Despite the differences in opinion, all however agreed that the assembly was a win-win situation for all parties, be it the organizers or the government.
They believed that it was proof that political transformation was alive, and that Malaysia is indeed able to hold demonstrations under peaceful conditions.
"This can serve as a lesson to the organizers to make sure that the issues raised are balanced out for everyone.
"It could also be due to the Indian community adopting a cautious approach. Some of them may feel that they have been used in previous rallies," the political analyst told Malaysian Digest today.
Underneath the cautious approach, Dr Sivamurugan said the Indian community's support towards the government has shown positive development, although not as a whole.
His opinion was echoed by another political analyst and economist, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnman, who said the Indian community could have "changed their mind" and have adopted a wait-and-see approach in the run-up to the 13th General Election.
"The Indian community feels that the steps adopted by the government could resolve their woes. For now, they are adopting a wait-and-see method; they are being patient as there are only a few months away till elections.
"They are smart, they will rise if any quarter does not provide equal treatment to them," said Ramon, who is also former Transparency International Malaysia president.
However, Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president, N. Surendran, begged to differ.
Surendran maintained that the Indian community is angry with the government for its failure to resolve their problems despite the country's comparatively small Indian population.
"It's absolutely untrue to say that the Indian community did not go down to the ground to support the assembly. Indians make up only seven per cent of the country's population.
"I personally observed many friends from the Indian community who showed up, and they are angry over issues such as lack of MyKad and birth certificates," he said.
Surendran's views, however, were challenged by MIC's P. Kamalanathan, who said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is sincere in helping the Indians in the country.
"MIC has also acted to meet the needs and resolve the Indian community's problems; we've fulfilled our responsibilities."
He believed that the low Indian turnout was due to distaste over the Opposition's overwhelmingly skewed perspective on issues.
Kamalanathan, who is also Hulu Selangor Member of Parliament, added that the assembly wasn't even necessary to begin with, as the assembly's list of demands has already been answered by the government, such as in the case of the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA).
"All they wanted to do was to organize a show of strength and support," he said.
Despite the differences in opinion, all however agreed that the assembly was a win-win situation for all parties, be it the organizers or the government.
They believed that it was proof that political transformation was alive, and that Malaysia is indeed able to hold demonstrations under peaceful conditions.
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