Friday December 14, 2007
Indian groups should join hands for community
ALL Indian groups must work together to help in uplifting the economic, welfare and social status of the community. This is the only way to ensure that Indians can enjoy all the benefits under the nation’s development programmes.
They will never be able to achieve this objective if there is no unity among them. They cannot operate in isolation and they must team up to do the job.
It is important therefore that all organisations, including political parties and religious, youth and welfare bodies join hands. Without this solidarity, they will be mere voices in the wilderness.
Every association must work purely in the interests of the community, and there must be no hidden agenda. So far, the Malaysian Indian Congress, being a key component member of the Barisan Nasional, has been the one representing Indians in the Government.
Since it is a political party, it has been carrying the flag of the Indian community for the past 50 years. In fact, it is the oldest political party of the ruling coalition.
Being the junior of the Big Three in Barisan, the MIC has actually performed above expectations in exacting more benefits from the Government for the Indians.
Much of this credit must go to its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who has become such a political force since he took charge of the party some 30 years ago. He is really the face of the Indian community.
Of course there are some Samy-come-lately who feel that he is not doing enough, and trying to belittle his contributions to the welfare of the community. They even tried to topple him.
But these detractors should not waste their time on such negative pursuits. Being in the political mainstream, the MIC is the proper forum to channel Indian grievances and complaints to the Government for action.
The other Indian-based organisations can only act as pressure groups since they represent a very small percentage of the Indian community, unlike the MIC.
Naturally, Samy cannot promise every Indian a million ringgit, but he can assure them of education, economic and social opportunities. He can be more effective if the other Indian non-governmental organisations can work with his party or whoever heads the MIC in the years ahead.
In other words, the party cannot be sidelined, or to use a more common term these days, be marginalised. If any new group is keen to promote Indian interests, they must do it together with the MIC.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Umno will never waver from this position. No one can hope to have a meeting with Pak Lah about the future of Indians without the presence of Samy Vellu or the MIC’s representatives.
After all, it would appear that the MIC and Indian NGOs have the common objective of looking after the community’s interests. So what is wrong with working together, unless they have their own political agenda?
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