Hindraf, we are not at war with you

The illusion of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is dangerous and nonsensical. I am referring to its unyielding stand that the DAP Gelang Patah Declaration is "plagiarised" from Hindraf's manifesto.

It's commendable that Hindraf has come up with a manifesto to uplift the socio-economic status of ethnic Indians.

But other Indian based organisations, such as the National Indian Rights Action Team (Niat) have put forward a 68-page exhaustive Indian empowerment plan and policy reforms to uplift the Indian community.

Clearly, Hindraf is not the only organisation working towards the empowerment of ethnic Indians.

But the insistence by Hindraf's leaders that the DAP declaration copies Hindraf's aspirations for the Indian community only goes to show their ignorance about the long-standing grievances faced by this minority community.

During the 1999 election, a group of NGOs under the umbrella of the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), first put forward a political document titled ‘Demands of Indian Malaysians: For a Better Future'. It was endorsed by political parties such as DAP, PAS, PRM, PAS and Keadilan (now PKR).

Thus, the aspirations of the Indian community are not a monopoly of any one group and there is enough room for all to contribute to the struggle.

I started working with the Indian community, and particularly with plantation workers, from the early 80s.

BN did very little for Indians

The Indians were largely poor, did not have the necessary skills to survive in an urban environment and marginalised in terms of education, employment and business opportunities.

We fought alongside the Indians for the implementation of a minimum wage, the right to Tamil education and to have their inherent rights met.

We fought for better infrastructure in Tamil schools and higher intake in universities, among other issues.

Fast forward to 2013, nothing much has changed under the BN rule.
Indian Malaysians continue to face the same dilemma. The MIC, which was then the self-proclaimed custodian of the community, took it upon itself to look into the welfare of the Indians.

The MIC's many schemes to uplift the community, including Maika shares, ended in disaster. Their only feat was successfully disengaging the Indians from the decision-making process of the government.

Hindraf leaders must bear in mind that many of the leaders in Pakatan Rakyat have been working with the Indian community long before Hindraf was even formed. We understand their issues and are not strangers to their aspirations.

Some of the points raised in the Gelang Patah Declaration were already raised in Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto. The declaration itself is a work in progress.

My party, DAP, has put forth the Gelang Patah Declaration to PKR and PAS. We will reach a consensus as deliberations are currently under way.

The Pakatan state governments of Selangor and Penang have provided millions of ringgit in support of Tamil schools, including helping to set up computer labs.

Money has also been given to temples and other programmes, including interest-free small business loans and programmes for single mothers.

Pakatan has walked the talk, although more needs to be done. However delivery aspects of these programmes can be more efficient.

But the structural problems facing the Indians can only be addressed in a comprehensive manner, with the commitment of the federal government.

Given what Hindraf claims to represent, its natural ally would be Pakatan Rakyat. As such, it would be prudent on the part of Hindraf leaders to stop acting like children.

We are not at war with each other here.

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CHARLES SANTIAGO is the incumbent Klang MP and vice-chairperson of Selangor DAP.