-Senator Dr. S. Ramakrishnan, November 9, 2012.

The Edge financial daily carried a 2 part interview with  S.K. Devamany, the deputy minister in Prime Minister Office.  He was saying that Indians should not blame MIC for all their problems but instead change their attitude and take advantage of the various programs launched by Najib Tun Razak. He finally insists that Indians have no choice but to still depend on MIC to defend and carry on the community’s interest. Let us look at what MIC and their fellow component parties are doing right now during the Deeepavali seaon.

Rice bags galore!

As Malaysian Indians are celebrating Deepavali, MIC, GERAKAN and PPP have started their main annual activity of giving rice bags and provision hampers all over the country on behalf of UMNO. In places where UMNO is not welcomed due to unfulfilled promises and neglect, MIC, GERAKAN and PPP go and soft talk the people into accepting UMNO. Then to cement the strained ties with UMNO these Indian parties in BN give hampers and rice bags and in return get their pledge to vote for BN.

As a case to mention, in a small town called Tenang in the Labis parliamentary constituency, the people are upset because of Tenang by-election in January 2011 unfulfilled promises.

The temple in Tenang was promised RM500000 by Menteri Besar office and it is not fulfilled till today.  In another estate temple a hall was promised but in actual fact a hall ¼ of the original size was built.

Collected Signatures submitted to  Devamany during the Tenang by election was not even submitted to SAJ, the Johore water concessioner. House breaking, extortion and poor responses from police in arresting the culprits are hurting the people.

The current Member of Parliament for Labis  Chua Tee Yong has not done anything for them. The MP gives MIC/MCA/PPP branches their annual allocations to appease them. MIC branches in Labis are dysfunctional, so the PPP branches have moved in to soft talk and sweet talk these simple folks into accepting 5 kilo rice bags and hampers and support BN. This is the case all over Malaysia. UMNO and MCA know how to get Indian votes.

Even though Indians have come a long way and are politically more aware, there are still some gullible people who run after hampers. BN component parties even take photos and publish in Tamil papers that they have given 5 kilo rice bags and hampers. Is this something we should be proud of?  MIC has made Indians addicted to rice bags and hampers. MIC will keep poor Indians run after hampers.

Indians have to be part of decision making process, which they are not. MIC has made them politically irrelevant. To be relevant Indians must be informed but BN controls the flow of information. Fortunately alternative media saved us. Sad to say even the Indian students in local universities are not spared by MIC. These students are misinformed and persuaded into believing that Indians are taken care of by UMNO/BN and MIC youth. MIC leaders are mercenaries of UMNO. Besides the 1 Malaysia slogans chanting, our PM could not walk his talk. Even the DPM does not believe in the PM’s 1Malaysia slogan.

These 5 kilo rice bag and hamper handouts to Indians during Deepavali have downgraded our image in the eye of other communities. The years of deprivation have made the poor very short sighted, insecure and self centered. This also shows how easily Indians can be satisfied and made contented.

Indians have an image problem. Thanks to MIC/BN. The Indians in US, Europe and even Africa are well respected. But the long apartheid policy of UMNO has robbed us of our self dignity. The children of Indian working class  suffer from lack of self-confidence and poor self-esteem.

Therefore, what S.K. Devamany said is all hot air without any substance. It’s another attempt to keep UMNO happy and make MIC relevant. But on the ground MIC have lost all credibility and respect from Indians. It is the BN’s handout programs that keep them relevant. In fact MIC may see its end in the forth coming elections.

MIC/BN has become a thing of the past. The future has to be more inclusive politics where all are equal and we walk with our heads held high. No more being treated as strangers in our own country of birth. Able and talented individuals regardless of our ethnicity and religion are called to serve this country. Only then will this blessed country will see its day. People like S.K. Davemany can’t do it. Therefore they have to make way politely.