‘Were Sivarasa, Santiago drafting or sleeping?’

MIC says they have disgraced Indians for not addressing the community’s concerns in the Pakatan manifesto.

PETALING JAYA: MIC today hit out at PKR’s S Sivarasa and DAP’s Charles Santiago for not ensuring that the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto contain promises made specifically to the Indian community.

“They are disgrace to the community,” said the party’s information chief, VS Mogan.

“It’s very general,” he said of the manifesto. “We can’t see anything special for Indians.”

He said he had expected specific promises aimed at helping Indians progress economically and socially.

“What were Sivarasa and Charles doing in Pakatan’s manifesto drafting committee?” he asked.

“Were they sleeping? Do they care about Indian issues? Or where they there just to make up the numbers?”

Mogan heaped praise on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, saying he had genuinely shown concern for the Indian community.

“Everybody knows how many schemes have been introduced and how much money the PM has spent for Indians,” he said.

“For 2012 alone, he allocated RM12 million for Tamil schools in Negeri Sembilan.

“For this year, MIC has requested RM16 million for Tamil schools in the state and I’m confident Najib will approve it.

“The government allocated RM30 million last year and RM50 million this year for Indian businesses under the Tekun scheme.

“Through Amanah Ikhtiar, we have also helped Indian ladies doing small businesses.

“As the PM announced in Port Dickson last Sunday, the government will allocate 1,600 places in government polytechnic colleges for Indian students who score only three credits in SPM.

“After they have received their diplomas, these students will be put on a fast track system, under which they can further their studies for bachelor’s and master’s degrees at local universities. The government has assured places for them.”

Mogan said the Pakatan manifesto’s “very general” nature could result in the further marginalisation of minority groups.

It should have given due recognition to Malaysia’s character as a multicultural nation, he added.

“Indians as the third largest group in Malaysia are denied the tools that would enhance their social and economic position.”

He questioned opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s sincerity in promising that Pakatan would, within 100 days of taking federal power, sort out the citizenship problems faced by Indians and give full government aid to all Tamil schools.

“These promises are nowhere to be seen in the manifesto,” he said.