The Human Rights Party (HRP) has a wish – that the dawn of the Indian New Year today will mark a new beginning in uplifting the socio-economic status of the Indian Malaysian community.
Pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar (left) told Malaysiakini that BN has used the community’s vote bank to its advantage and in return has only given out titbits.
He said Indians are only given importance whenever an election is called. Promises are held out, but the community has been taken for a ride for the past 52 years.
BN politicians visit voters only every election year, to sing sweet songs of economic progress. Once their votes are in hand, they are swiftly forgotten until the next election comes along, he said.
The latest round of such political manipulation was seen during the Bagan Pinang by-election in Negri Sembilan last year – the community there is still waiting for pledges to be fulfilled, he claimed.
"The Indian community should not be mere voting statistics but put on economic par with the other races," he said.
At the same time, HRP wants the community to look beyond misleading short-term election measures and to reflect on the long-term interests that will affect future generations in terms of education and business opportunities.
"Thirty years ago, many Chinese were involved in crime activities but now they have improved their socio-economic status and have moved on. They have been replaced by Indians (in crime)."
Emphasis on education
Uthayakumar also said Indians should not be deprived of access to modern educational facilities and a conducive learning environment.
The excuse that Tamil schools are situated on private land should be replaced by political will in the BN-led federal government to upgrade these to the level of national schools.
Scholarships, job opportunities in the civil sector and bank loans for business should be extended to Indians who are marginalised, to uplift them economically, Uthayakumar said.
HRP also wants the community to change its mindset to accept the opportunities offered, rather than remain trapped in a ‘fatalistic’ state of mind.
Uthayakumar noted that, on the social psychological level, many Indians are caught between an older school of thinking and new trends that have led to changes in larger society.
Some parents, for example, do not give much importance to education, but stop their children’s education at primary level to force them to help boosting the family’s income.
Pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar (left) told Malaysiakini that BN has used the community’s vote bank to its advantage and in return has only given out titbits. He said Indians are only given importance whenever an election is called. Promises are held out, but the community has been taken for a ride for the past 52 years.
BN politicians visit voters only every election year, to sing sweet songs of economic progress. Once their votes are in hand, they are swiftly forgotten until the next election comes along, he said.
The latest round of such political manipulation was seen during the Bagan Pinang by-election in Negri Sembilan last year – the community there is still waiting for pledges to be fulfilled, he claimed.
"The Indian community should not be mere voting statistics but put on economic par with the other races," he said.
At the same time, HRP wants the community to look beyond misleading short-term election measures and to reflect on the long-term interests that will affect future generations in terms of education and business opportunities.
"Thirty years ago, many Chinese were involved in crime activities but now they have improved their socio-economic status and have moved on. They have been replaced by Indians (in crime)."
Emphasis on education
Uthayakumar also said Indians should not be deprived of access to modern educational facilities and a conducive learning environment.
The excuse that Tamil schools are situated on private land should be replaced by political will in the BN-led federal government to upgrade these to the level of national schools.
Scholarships, job opportunities in the civil sector and bank loans for business should be extended to Indians who are marginalised, to uplift them economically, Uthayakumar said.
HRP also wants the community to change its mindset to accept the opportunities offered, rather than remain trapped in a ‘fatalistic’ state of mind.
Uthayakumar noted that, on the social psychological level, many Indians are caught between an older school of thinking and new trends that have led to changes in larger society.
Some parents, for example, do not give much importance to education, but stop their children’s education at primary level to force them to help boosting the family’s income.
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