WILL INDIAN BE TAKEN FOR A RIDE AGAIN?

By : SELVARAJA SOMIAH

COME elections Indians are the most sought after people. This time too political parties are queuing outside the houses of religious leaders, organizations to woo the Indians ahead of the 13th General Elections which might be called anytime now.

Be it Barisan National or Pakatan Rakyat, they all are throwing bait to Indians.

Now even Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is doing the same. At the Taipusam festival in Batu Caves a few days ago Najib urged Indian Malaysians to ‘trust’ him to improve their lives. Najib emphasized on 'Nambekei' (Tamil for trust) and said Barisan Nasional government will fulfil all its promises to the Indian community and guaranteed that every promise will be delivered.

The Barisan National and Pakatan Rakyat are talking about giving more oppotunities to Indians if voted to power. Each party is trying its best to portray itself as Indian well-wisher. Such tall promises are not being made for the first time. For the last more than 50 years political parties have treated Indians merely as vote-bank to be used during elections and then discarded.

The conditions of Indians have been deteriorating fast. Rate of illiteracy is high. Their youth continue to struggle to get decent jobs in the fast-changing corporate Malaysia. Women education is abysmal. Overall their condition is worse than all the other races in Malaysia put together. To get over the situation, the community approaches ruling parties with begging bowl to give them opportunities as if it would bring an end to their woes.

Who is to be blamed for their backwardness: Government or the community? It is not only political parties that have exploited them, even their representatives mainly MIC and religious organizations have taken them for a ride. For a few bucks and a coveted post, they bargain with political parties, leaving the community in the lurch. .

The situation is chaotic with some religious organizations and politicians allying with parties that can help them ride up the ladder and allow them to bring in money just to build and to beautify and improve the facilities at Batu Caves so that it can become a popular tourist destination or to get RM4 million project for a new building for SRJK Batu Caves or organize seminars and symposium targeting the elite class.

Indian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Mynadi and the Sri Murugan Centre are good examples and exceptionals. Nobody else thinks about the poor and marginalized section.

The situation is really bad with many religious organizations and politicians obsequiously surrendering to the ruling party whether it is the Barisan National at the centre or Pakatan Rakyat in states. In Selangor, two known religious organizations have sold their soul to the ruling government in exchange of a few million ringgit.

Raising sentimental issues have become a trend among Indian politicians and religious leaders. With election just round the corner many leaders in Putrajaya have started talking about opportunities for the marginalized Indians. They are not raising these issues because their hearts bleed for the Indian poor.

The fact is they are doing so to cut a bargain with the ruling party and other political parties. Had they been their well-wisher they would have assisted the family members of those arrested under Emergency Ordinance (EO) and who are living in pitiable conditions in Simpang Rengam.

The community has been hijacked by some opportunist politicians and religious leaders, who are just bothered about making money after coming to power or supporting certain political parties for their benefit. The middle-class has no time to ponder on these burning issues as most of their time is spend in improving their living standards and catching up with the elite.

The common and uneducated mass is left confused. With nobody to guide them they too become easy victims of political parties’ game, who promise them the moon during elections but deliver nothing after coming to power. When election comes, Indian voters prefer voting Barisan National as they feel that they would extricate them from poverty and illiteracy. Also, the voters are easily carried away by leaders’ skills to raise emotional issues.

The community has been severely hit by a leadership crisis. There is nobody who can dare air honest views. It is difficult to get hold of honest, sincere and well-educated Indian politician or religious leaders. Most of them have been co-opted by the government machinery.

The situation has come to such a passé that anybody with a few bucks want to be the leader of the community. Ironically, most of these messiah form their world and national view by religiously following third-rated Tamil dailies. Nothing seems to be changing.