PKR unfazed by Hindraf's meeting with PM

PKR believes its Indian support base will not be significantly affected even if the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) does not throw its weight behind Pakatan Rakyat in the coming general election.

PKR vice-president N Surendran remained optimistic that the Indian electorate “would know” what Pakatan, in particular PKR, has been doing for the community, even after Hindraf’s meeting with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak earlier this week.

“The Indian community knows what we have done for them. In fact, I would say that PKR has been leading the cause in helping the Indians for stateless, death in custody and litigation cases,” said Surendran, who has been at the forefront of championing the welfare of Indians from within the party.

“It will absolutely not (affect Indian support). I’m not greatly concerned. We are confident, regardless of whether Hindraf is with us or not,” Surendran added, stressing that his party has already agreed “in principle” with the Hindraf blueprint.

However, Surendran, appeared rather cautious when asked if the party would again welcome talks with Hindraf, now that the NGO leaders had chosen to meet Najib.

“We will work with any party that is genuinely interested in working for the welfare of the Indians,” he said.

‘Negotiations could have been better handled’

Meanwhile, DAP’s Klang MP, Charles Santiago, lamented the way Hindraf had approached the negotiations with Pakatan and also with the public statements that Hindraf’s leaders have made about the opposition.

“It could have been done in a better way,” Charles said.

He predicted that Hindraf “will come around”, emphasising that the NGO has “no other alternative” than to come back to join the Pakatan fold.

However, should Hindraf not declare its support for Pakatan, Charles admitted, it will have an effect on a “small segment of the Indian electorate”.

“There are Hindraf supporters who want Hindraf to vote for Pakatan, but Hindraf leaders seem to have their own agenda,” he said, adding that it was “an exaggeration” to claim Pakatan had not done much to uplift the Indian community since 2008.

On Monday, Hindraf attended a one-hour meeting with Najib at his office in Putrajaya, after which it said more meetings with the prime minister would take place soon.