| Shades of opinion from across the diffused political spectrum of the people of Indian origin in Malaysia may be “articulated” at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. |
Delegates from Malaysia are making a beeline for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in Chennai, carrying assorted bags of sweet-and-sour tales on the “situation” of ethnic Indians in that upscale developing country. An “India-Diaspora vision plan” is also to be found in this diffused cultural baggage.
The long-established Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) delegates are often a conspicuous lot at the annual PBD gatherings. This time, though, there may be an additional and qualitative difference, according to some of the likely participants.
Vying for attention in Chennai, leaders of Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance) and Makkal Sakthi (People Power) will be present for the first time at a PBD event, alongside the MIC. The possibility of such an unusual qualitative ambience has been emphasised by the leaders of these groups in several telephonic conversations with this correspondent in Singapore in the past few days.
Far from any likelihood of a confrontation among these leaders, what is projected by them is a scenario of their possible competition to brief the “larger PBD Diaspora” on the “true” Malaysian Indian “situation.” Shades of opinion from across the diffused political spectrum of the people of Indian origin in Malaysia may be “articulated” during the course of the entire event. It is not clear, though, whether the conference format in Chennai will give the different groups a chance for direct engagement between each other during any particular thematic session.
Relevant to the overall PBD context is the “reality” of an “emerging ethnic Indian voice” within the different but friendly camps of Pakatan and Makkal Sakthi. At the federal level in Malaysia, Pakatan — a coalition of two multi-ethnic parties and an Islam-based outfit with a “changing world view” — made key gains in the snap general election that took place after last year’s PBD. In the process, the MIC was among the parties in a long-governing federal coalition that lost many seats in the House of Representatives, without losing grip on power as such. Until then, the MIC was widely seen in Malaysia and outside as the sole authentic voice of the PIO segment in that country.
No less importantly, the Pakatan came to power in several states in Malaysia, all with a sizable PIO presence. The PIO segment, at around two million people in all, is Malaysia’s second-largest minority group after the ethnic Chinese there; and Malays form the majority. A number of factors, really unrelated to the PBD, fashioned that particular poll outcome. However, a key issue in focus in that poll was the “political articulation” of the “marginalisation” of ethnic Indians in Malaysia since its independence in 1957.
The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), an ethnic Indian activist-group with “Makkal Sakthi” as the credo, had sought to draw attention to the “marginalisation” issue and also backed Pakatan in the 2008 poll context. And, with the Malaysian authorities recently proscribing Hindraf, its old “political space” has now been taken over by Makkal Sakthi as a new interest-group.
Unsurprisingly, leaders of Pakatan and Makkal Sakthi are convinced of the likely relevance of these aspects to the “larger Indian Diaspora” during the Chennai PBD this week.
Samy Vellu, the long-serving MIC leader, speaking from Kuala Lumpur, indicated that he would shine the spotlight on the big picture: “the creation of [an Indian Diaspora] circle of excellence.” And, given the “supremacy” of India in the information technology sector, it was important to think now about nurturing the “next generation of [science and technology] entrepreneurs” among Indians across the world. He would, therefore, suggest the formation of “an India-Diaspora Business Consultative Group.”
At another level, “a borderless global Indian workforce” was already a factor to reckon with in many places. Both Indian nationals and ethnic Indians in other countries were in this category. Mr. Samy Vellu, a senior Malaysian Minister until recently, said “a vision plan” for India should be to “select, train, and send a global workforce of Indian origin” in a range of sectors including the high-tech domain.
On the current “Malaysian Indian situation,” the MIC leader said: “They [his critics] can raise anything [as an issue]. I am prepared to answer.” While Mr. Samy Vellu was honoured at a previous PBD, another MIC leader is likely to be similarly recognised this time. While the names of awardees would be announced only during the conference, a key MIC participant this time will be Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister S. Subramanian. Both he and Mr. Samy Vellu will speak at the PBD-preceding ‘Tamil Economy’ meet as well.
P. Ramasamy, Deputy Chief Minister of Penang State, appreciated India’s gesture of acceding to Pakatan’s request for representation at the Chennai PBD this time. He said, over telephone from Penang, the purpose of the request was “not so much to put down the MIC as to convey a true picture of the actual situation of [ethnic] Indians in Malaysia.” The other reason: nearly 70 per cent of Malaysian Indians live in the states now under Pakatan’s rule. He himself is the first-ever ethnic Indian to hold high office in a province.
Taking exception to the “uncritical” labelling of overseas Indians, Prof. Ramasamy said East Asia was actually home to distinctive “Indian communities,” not a “Diaspora” in a narrow sense. Ethnic Indians were originally “transplanted” in this region, mainly as workers during the colonial era.
However, they later evolved into “communities” through interaction with native Malays or Chinese and other societies. Such an evolution was also shaped by the ethnic-Indian “struggles” of the labour movement during the colonial period.
Given his own “labour” family background, Prof. Ramasamy said: “I am very concerned at the treatment meted out to Indian workers [from India] in Malaysia. I don’t understand why they want to come to Malaysia.”
Makkal Sakthi leader P. Waytha Moorthy, speaking from London, said he would attend the PBD “as a Malaysian,” determined to present “a clear and true picture of the plight of Malaysian Indians.” He would do so through personal interactions with the delegates from other countries. Another Makkal Sakthi activist, Manickavasagam, parliamentarian from a Pakatan constituent party, is also likely to be present at the conference.
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