CABINET POSITIONS IN PROTEST

The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) which is the third largest component party in the Barisan Nasional and who claims to be the 'champions of the Indian community' will decide at its Central Working Committee Meeting in a few days time whether the party officials who have been appointed to newly appointed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak's new Cabinet should resign since MIC feels that they are treated like 'second and third class citizens' by being offered junior ministerial positions.

The MIC had at all material times held the Works Minister's position and since the disastrous 8 March general elections, the MIC had this position taken away and offered a junior position as Human Resources Minister.

MIC President Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu claims that the Indian community seems that MIC is unable to demand anything from UMNO control BN, although every component party have to be treated fairly and squarely. He further claims that the Indian community have been lacking behind since the government had neglected their request for such a long time and since the restructuring of the estates and Indians flocking to the urban life, most Indians were unprepared or not given proper guidance or care, resulting in the community facing many serious problems while Indians are also victimised by the system.

In order for the government to take a serious view, and since our appeal is unheard, a boycott in the Cabinet would force the BN leadership to address the Indian community woes. MIC should no longer be 'bullied' to achieve other communities benefit. Malaysia is made up of various races and its time for the BN federal government to look into their plight and try to resolve most of their grievances rather than giving in to certain communities.

But the Indian community is quite sceptical on whether MIC will make such a move since they could be 'bought'. MIC, which always claims that 'MIC will sink or swim with BN' may be talked out of this plan and the MIC leaders know that it better to hold something rather than becoming 'irrelevant'.

But the Indian community feels that if such a move materialises, the BN federal government would immediately address the grouses which the community have been hoping for such a long time now. With this move, MIC would be able to regain its lost glory with the Indian support returning to them wholeheartedly.

Will MIC take this BOLD STEP?