THE Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is a big disappointment to the Indians in Malaysia.
Apart from the appointment of two Indian as deputy ministers, there was no appointment of an Indian as a minister. The only Indian Tamil V. Sivakumar was dropped as the Human Resources (HR) Minister. His replacement was not an Indian.
Traditionally from days of the MIC in the Barisan Nasional (BN), the HR portfolio was given to an Indian. Under the present reshuffle, this portfolio has been snatched away from Indians.
Two deputy ministers have been appointed from PKR and DAP. But the appointment from the DAP was senior leader M. Kulasegsaran who was once a human resource minister under the earlier Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
His appointment or demotion as the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) is clearly an insult not just to him but also the Indian community.
I hope if Kulasegaran has the pride and dignity, he would reject his appointment as the deputy minister.
Surely, if Anwar had any respect for Indians, he would have appointed two full Indian ministers. There are candidates in PKR and DAP who are qualified.
This is not to forget MIC candidates like Datuk Seri M. Saravanan was himself a former human resources minister in the cabinet of prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
What has happened to the promise made by Anwar during the meeting with MIC leaders prior to the Aug 12 six state elections where he promised the MIC posts in the government?
The long-awaited cabinet reshuffle is nothing but a major disappointment to the Indians – a community which threw its support for the Madani government in the last federal elections.
Anwar’s dance performance to MGR songs and his quoting of Thirukural verses means nothing in terms of respect for Indians in the country. The reshuffle made it clear that Anwar cannot be trusted by the Indians anymore.
The DAP and PKR who are the mighty proponents of multi-racial politics did not ever dare to nominate Indian Tamils for ministerial posts. So much for the empty multi-racial politics in the country.
My friends and I feel vindicated by the formation of the Indian-based party, Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party). The treatment of Indians by the Madani government justifies the formation of Urimai.
There is no future for Indians under the present Madani government. Anwar is nothing but a disappointment. – Dec 12, 2023
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party) Interim Council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main pic credit: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Facebook
