Big plans but can MIC deliver?

Delegates were told not to debate claims of money politics and instead to stick to issues relating to the party.

MALACCA: MIC’s 67th annual general assembly today ended with no major concession granted by the government to the Indian community despite party president G Palanivel seeking RM3 billion and for the government to formulate an Indian Community Redevelopment plan.

What the party got it return was an assurance from Prime Minister and BN chairman Najib Tun Razak that the BN government will continue to develop the Indian community and views this as a continuous process.

At the end of the day, the task facing the MIC, with its new vice-presidents and Central Working Committee members is now to ensure the party remains relevant to the Indian community, and to ensure the community’s support for BN.

During his closing speech, Palanivel urged all winners and losers of the party’s elections to close ranks and work together for a brighter development of the party. He also proposed for state and division elections to be introduced.

He pointed out that Najib had not provided a firm engagement in helping the Indian community when he requested for RM3 billion.

“I also hoped that the premier would allocate at least additional RM1billion as the latest RM200 million allocation is insufficient to alleviate Indians socio-economic status,” he told the delegates at Hotel Equatorial, Malacca.

His deputy Dr S Subramaniam, who is also Health Minister, urged party members to work towards the next general election to regain the Indian votes.

He also warned that the party would suffer in the next GE if it does not rectify its mistakes.

The three vice presidents – S Sothinathan, M Saravanan and S Balakrishnan – also thanked the delegates for electing them.

However questions were raised with the manner of the victory tasted by the eventual leaders with a veteran party member from Mersing, Johor openly admitting that candidates gave him money in order to vote for them.

N Nagalingam during his debate claimed that he received RM5,000 in total during the campaign period. He said he had donated the money to a temple.

However the issue was money politics did not gain at traction as the chairman of the meeting S Kumaran urged delegates to debate party issues instead of money politic.

The AGM also lacked spice without the participation of Wanita wing. Only less than 10 percent of the delegates were from the Youth and Wanita wings.

Around seven resolutions were debated and passed at the AGM included one to increase Indian participation in the government sector. Most of the resolutions were a repeat from previous years assemblies.

Redevelopment plan
In his speech, Palanivel had said the government must formulate an Indian Community Redevelopment plan to improve the socio-economic status of the community in the country.

For this purpose, he proposed the government allocate RM3 billion to be channeled for training, education and business loans for the Indian community.

He said what was being provided by the government currently was insufficient to enable the Indian community to be freed from the shackles of poverty as it only had a 1.3 per cent share of the country’s equity despite making up eight per cent of the population.

“It is not adequate to solve the major problems faced by the Indian community.

“What is needed is a redevelopment plan for the Indian community, a large injection of infrastructural projects, grants and funds which will propel the Indian community into national mainstream development,” he said.

Palanivel said he was confident the new dimension in investment will spawn multiplier effects which could help overcome problems on education, religion and crime that had been prevalent among the local Indian community for generations.

According to him, to ensure its success, MIC had outlined several projects, among them investments in properties which had the potential for good returns, technology companies and smart agricultural projects based on the Steinbeck model in California which not only offered alternative employment opportunities to plantation workers but also ownership of the estate they are working in.

He said MIC was now on the right track to ensure all programmes planned could be implemented well and gave good returns.

“We are not talking about assistance for entrepreneurs who want to open barber shops or stalls. On the other hand, I want to see Indian entrepreneurs to be involved in businesses based on the latest technology such as nanotechnology, green technology or research on quantum computer technology,” he said.

He said even though MIC appreciated the government’s contribution and special allocations for the Indian community, for example the RM200 million in the 2014 Budget, but it was only 0.08 per cent of the RM264 billion budget.

Various allocations for Indians
In response, Najib said the government would continue to ensure the distribution of the country’s wealth would carried be out fairly as well as inclusively for all communities.

“As the government, we are always working to ensure the policies upheld by the BN are fair with the distribution of wealth and opportunities in all fields more inclusive so that each community regardless of whether they are the majority or minority will have a better future under the BN,” he said.

He said efforts to resolve the problems of the Indian community had been carried out and as a result support from the community to the BN had improved.

Nonetheless, Najib said he was not satisfied with the achievements made for the Indian community as there was still room for improvement.

“Support of the Indian community has improved, but I feel the support is not overwhelming and that is why I still consider our efforts are a work in progress,” he said.

In this regard, Najib denied that the 2014 Budget only allocated 0.08 per cent from the total of RM264 billion to the Indian community.

He said various allocations through ministries such as housing for the people also involved the Indian community.