PRIME Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that he has no interest whatsoever on the progress of the Indian community in the country.
It took merely one year for him to destroy the goodwill and sincerity shown by the Indian community towards him and the unity government.
Indians were in the forefront of the proposed reforms initiated by Anwar while he was in the opposition. Because of the firm belief of Indians in the political cause of Anwar, Indian membership swell to over 40% in PKR.
Indians who were cheated by the earlier governments thought that Anwar was the leader who will deliver the community from ignorance and darkness.
When Anwar became the PM last year, Indians and others were overjoyed. It was like a dream coming true for them. It was like a saviour emerging from the ashes of the past.
However, sad to say, within one year in power, Anwar has gone back on the much needed institutional and policy reforms.
More than this, he has negated the promises made to Malaysians especially those in the lower socio-economic bracket, particularly the Indian poor. He has brushed aside calls for the reforms of the educational and economic sectors.
He admonished an 18-year-old Indian school girl for questioning the quota system of entry into public universities and the matriculation programme. He warned the girl not to rock the social contract.
More than this, the party leadership’s indifference to racism against Indians has not gone well with the community. Anwar role in the conversion of an Hindu youth was an insult to the Indian community the vast majority being are Hindus by faith.
Straw that broke the camel’s back
And finally – this may not be that last – the very recent cabinet reshuffle had further proved that Anwar had little or no interest in the welfare and well-being of the Indian community.
He couldn’t even appoint one Indian Tamil to a ministerial position in the cabinet. At least during the Barisan Nasional (BN) days, there was first two ministers and later one minister.
Even under the so-called ‘backdoor’ Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration, Indians had one minister. Now after the reshuffle, there is not even one Tamil speaking Indian minister.
It is not that Anwar does not know about the communal composition of the Indian community. It is alright to appoint members of other ethnic minorities to the cabinet.
What about Indians who comprise the third largest ethnic group in the country especially in Peninsula Malaysia. What is the use of appointing deputy ministers when they do not have a major role in safeguarding the rights of the community?
A former minister was recently appointed as the deputy minister. This is clearly an act of demotion and humiliation but the unfortunate thing is that he accepted the appointment with appreciation.
The so-called multi-racial political parties such as the DAP and PKR did not take the responsibility in the recommendation of Indian candidates for ministerial posts.
I feel vindicated to say that these multi-racial parties have no interest whatsoever in promoting Indian leaders in their respective political parties. As far as Indians are concerned, multi-racial politics is a farce and shame!
The cabinet reshuffle might strengthen Anwar’s administration but one thing is loud and clear. The Indian community – majority of whom are Tamils – have been betrayed beyond imagination.
Those detractors who took umbrage with me for the formation of the new political party – Urimai – (United Rights of Malaysian Party) – might have to swallow their words.
The discrimination of Indians vindicates the formation of Urimai. It is not that multitude of Indian political parties are the cause of the divisions in the Indian community but attempting to address the discrimination and marginalisation by the Madani government.
The confusion between cause and effect seems to bedevil the detractors especially with their petit bourgeois views. – Dec 13, 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.
