Hindraf - Then And One Year Later

1. It has been exactly one year since approximately 30,000 Malaysians of Indian origin marched towards Jalan Ampang purportedly to hand over a ridiculous memorandum seeking compensation from the British Government, blamed for bringing over hundreds of thousands of people from few states in India and exploiting them as cheap labor. The wanted to sue the UK Government for US$4 trillion (US$1 million for every Malaysian Indian) for bringing Indians as indentured laborers into Malaya, "exploiting them for 150 years" and thereafter failing to protect the minority Indians' rights in the Federal Constitution when independence was granted.
2. It was found later that the memorandum was never handed over but faxed to the British High Commission. While thousand s of Indian Malaysian started gathering in pockets around KL before the sunrise, the key Hindraf leaders only arrived after lunch hours, so much for their commitment to their cause. It was also reported that the so-called marginalized Indian Malaysians was seen to be having a beer bottle in one hand while holding Mahatma Gandhi's potrait on the other hand.

3. Well, what HINDRAF refuse to understand is that their parents and leaders agreed to the 'social contract’ and related constitution wholeheartedly before the independence was granted. If they have anyone to blame, if should be the people and Indian leaders during the period.

4. HINDRAF also missed the point that, Indians from India came on their free will to seek for greener pastures in Malaya. I cannot imagine what would have been thei fate if they remained in India. They would have definitely fared much worse.

5. Judging from official statistics from the 9th Malaysian Plan, the status of Indians in this country are far better than the Malays. Note that the Indian composition in Malaysia is 7.4% while the Bumis are 66.6% but the average Indian household income is even higher than the Malays. The poverty rate of the Malays is at 8.3% as compared to the Indians at 2.9% while the percentage of Indians becoming doctors and lawyers are way higher than their population percentage! The only sort of employment that the Malays can be proud of which is nearer to their percentage of population is ‘kerani’ at 56.7%. At least the statistics above proved that the NEP had worked since its establishment in 1970. The states of the socio economy of Malays and Indians prior to 1970 were much, much worse.

6. Apart from statistics, the reality on the ground maybe a bit skewed. The massive movements of Indian Malaysians from estates and rural areas to town did cause pockets of urban poverty. It cannot be denied that Indian Malaysians found it difficult to survive and adjust to urban life especially when their means are limited. These Indian Malaysians, usually in their 40s-50s, are the ones who are still struggling as their may still have to support their families and education. They are the ones who end up being odd job workers, scrap metal traders, lorry driver and some employed by the local councils.

7. On the other hand, education opportunities and aids provided by the government, political parties (including MIC) and NGOs have somewhat helped to elevate their status from urban poor to middle class, no different from middle class Malays. There are at least one degree holders in a family as compared to say 10 - 15 years ago. Indian Malaysians also seen to be generally doing well in the new economy as evidenced in Cyberjaya where they overwhelm other races in terms of employment as evidenced by the fact that half of HSBC Cyberjaya (Cyberjaya's biggest employer) employees are Indian Malaysians.

8. With this shift and continued emphasis on education, Indian Malaysians are bound to be doing well in the coming years. As pointed out by many others, Indians and Chinese Malaysians always have their survival instincts to bank on when times are hard.

9. Some of HINDRAF's claims do have some merits though. They are opportunities in participating in government contracts, permits of all kinds, share allocations, credit facilities etc. These are bound by priorities given to Bumiputra and probably NEP. I know a few friends in the transportation bossiness who until today rents transportation permit from Malays although the own their business and lorry. This is perhaps where the government, more precisely the MIC, specifically Samy Vellu, failed. Even recommendation letter from a MIC Deputy Minister failed to get them individual permit from the local 'Little Napoleons'.

10. HINDRAF's concerns on the memorandum with regards to temples and Tamil schools contains blatant lies. Many schools were closed due to poor enrolment more than any other reasons while Indian Malaysians habit of building temples everywhere illegally are the root cause of some of the recent temple demolition. Their claims of 15,000 temples demolished over 50 years are gross exaggeration.

11. Indian Malaysians are generally emotional people still influenced tremendously by events in Tamil Nadu and not to mention, the movies. Generally they are doing fine as evidenced by official statistics. Like other Malaysians, they have this cow herd mentality where when someone shouts 'injustice', 'Oppression', 'Apartheid' etc, they just follow suit. They simply forgot how their poorly their parents and grandparents lived before in Malaya and Malaysia before them.

12. To exploit the Indian Malaysians further, you wont go wrong if you use Tamil Schools and Temples. There you go, emotions run high and suddenly they cry discrimination. This is what the learned lawyers of HINDRAF did, using temples and Tamils schools as examples of discrimination without basis. They also went on threatening the governement that they might use force/violence if their demands are not met.

12. A lot of HINDRAF supporters who went to the streets are the same ones who waste their money on booze, gambling, womanizing etc. Indian Malaysians also do not know to live within their means, they have the habit of borrowing money to hold various functions and events in their homes just in the name of religion, tradition and culture.

13. Many of HINDRAF supporters may be well read, but not well educated. They still have the inferiority complex that stops them from feeling proud to be Malaysians first. Their lack of confidence and ability to think on their own has led them to the path of HINDRAF and opposition political parties. Until today, I have yet to come across any of Hindraf supporters (many of whom are my friends and relatives) who can briefly summarise and tell me the contents of the 18 point memorandum.

14. Just before the March general elections, HINDRAF has already gained the support of 80% Indian Malaysians by the way of sympathy towards 5 leaders in ISA as well as continued nationwide gatherings where they continued to incite hatred towards MIC and UMNO. They urged their supporters to vote for opposition and the cows followed the cowboy's order without thinking. Thanks you very much says, Anwar Ibrahim and his partners in Pakatan Rakyat. This is when we saw Indian Malaysians voting for PAS. 'Makkal Sakhti' shouts Anwar in most of the rallies in urban areas and HINDRAF supported believed him outright.

15.Pakatan wins 5 states, Anwar, while claiming that he's still Sivaji, the Boss, went on pursuing his dreams of becoming the Prime Minister. Hindraf on the other hand has disintegrated into several factions while there were many accusations of misappropriation of funds donated by their supporters.

16. So what did HINDRAF do with the win of opposition in 5 states, so far absolutely nothing! Since most of their issue concerning land and local issues, they should have by now, pressured all the Pakatan Rakyat states to convert or allocate lands for Tamil Schools and temples, provide employment in local council and the state government, pressure state governments demanding equal opportunities in permits, contracts etc.

17. What have the Pakatan Rakyat government done in appreciation of HINDRAF's support, also absolutely nothing. So, what have they (HINDRAF) been doing then, nothing else but organising prayers all around Malaysia hoping for the release of 5 HINDRAF leaders detained under ISA, until the government outlawed HINDRAF.

18. So one year later, HINDRAF have lost their plot, so are the leaders from Pakatan Rakyat who amassed their support during the recent elections. Everything is back to square one. I have seen a decline in support of HINDRAF. Some Indian Malaysians realised that they have been hoodwinked by both HINDRAF and Pakatan Rakyat leaders. Sigh..., at least some of them have started to think, never mind it's about one year late, its still better than never.

19. HINDRAF supporters are in a serious denial mode. They have to realise their own weaknesses and work on improving them. Their future is well within their own hands, many know and realise that but they are told otherwise by some foolish lawyers. They are often reminded indirectly of their inferiority complex and constantly urged to fight for their rights when issues like temples and schools are brought up where the actual facts are misrepresented. They also have a serious problem of believing in half-truths and rumours without taking the effort to verify facts.

20. It has come to a stage where, there are no point of blaming one party and relying on another party to uplift their socio-economic status. What they need now is confidence, continuous education, resourcefulness and ability to chart their own future.