Written by Wally,
In response to Helen Ang’s article: To the critics of Hindraf and Uthayakumar ,May 26, 2010 22:10:06 http://malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32054:to-the-critics-of-hindraf-and-uthayakumar&catid=18:letterssurat&Itemid=100129
Helen, speaking as a foreign visitor to Malaysia (although not exactly
a complete outsider), I feel you presented the case well when advising
all Malaysians to listen to the content of Hindraf’s message and to
try to ignore the perhaps unpalatable method of delivery – because you
sure can’t make a problem disappear simply by ignoring the messenger.
As a guest in Malaysia for two years I have to admit I loved it very
much, not just because it is a beautiful country but because the many
diverse cultures living side by side there provided a truly exotic and
enticing environment, plus Malaysia’s people are generally very
gentle, tolerant and polite. I wish I could also say that I saw no
evidence of racial divides in Malaysia but, sadly, it wouldn’t be
true. I was there in that tense period not so long ago when the Indian
community marched through the centre of KL.
When I was living in KL nobody seemed to question the validity of the
sort of problems Hindraf highlights today (I wouldn’t know about the
severity or otherwise of the problems, of course). However, no matter
the extent, they are obviously real problems at some level that
negatively impact a large group of people who, because they aren’t
free to go somewhere else any time soon, have the potential to cause a
great deal of internal strife for Malaysia if those problems are not
resolved satisfactorily. It would be true of any neglected minority
group anywhere in the world. Such problems can therefore only be
ignored at great peril to the longer term stability of the country
involved.
I can see why it might be appealing for the wider community to turn
its back on a minority that is becoming a pain in the butt, but is
that truly the wisest course of action when the minority group has
valid grouses that have been ignored for a long period?
Surely the best option is for an influential group of people in the
wider community to take the lead and listen properly to the grievances
of the minority communities and then, collectively, for everyone to
work together in a new administrative spirit to take real and
constructive steps to redress the problems of all minority groups
deserving of a better deal. Of course, I can hear the hoots of
derision even now before I post this, labelling me as an idealist and
even of being a dreamer. But since the alternative is to bury your
head in the sand and wait for the inevitable kick in the rear, I’ll
happily stick to working towards the fulfilment of a dream any day, no
matter how much hard work it promises to be!
It takes two to tango, of course, and if the leaders of a minority
group truly feel that there is no point talking openly to their fellow
countrymen outside of that group because "it would just be a waste of
time", then I really don’t know what the chances are of the Brazilian
concept of ‘one people no race’ taking root for a country faced with
the same problems as those facing Malaysia. So, in Malaysia’s case at
this stage of the game, is this perhaps a bridge too far?
Ends
And then in response to Wally’s comments -
written by Stormquest, May 27, 2010 09:47:18
Wally,
I am grateful for your post, as I am for Helen Ang’s wonderful letter.
Sometimes, it does take a foreign visitor to see things that others
don’t.
Everybody wants to complain about how HINDRAF/HRP is going it alone.
But seriously, where were all these Malaysian First-ers, the NGO’s,
and opposition political parties before, during and after the HINDRAF
Rally in 2007? The fact that Indians were left alone for more than 50
years, meant that they walked alone in November 2007. And it wasn’t
just Tamil speaking Hindus who came together, but Indians of all
ethnic groups, religions, and social standing. In the immediate
aftermath of the HINDRAF Rally, Indians started smiling at each other,
even if they didn’t know each other. It wasn’t said. It was
understood. Even enemies became friends. It actually felt good to be
an Indian. There was a sense of unity, a sense of belongingness, and a
sense of pride that was unseen and unheard of amongst the Indians in
this country. The Indians finally stood up for themselves.
But now, Malaysian First-ers make out that they are somehow more
Malaysian than HINDRAF/HRP, and by token the Indian community. They
ignore the fact that the Indians came together as Malaysians first
during the March 2008 elections. Overwhelming numbers abandoned MIC.
In terms of sheer scale, there has not been that kind of abandonment
of any other ethnic based parties, like UMNO or MCA in the history of
the nation. It was literally giving up whatever power they had as
community within the MIC, and placing themselves in the hands of other
Malaysians. In this regards, many Indians felt that they were finally
going to be treated as Malaysians, which to them meant that their
issues were going to be addressed at long last. This is after all, the
only reason why people cast their vote…to get their issues addressed.
Well, it obviously didn’t turn out that way. Given this, many now feel
that their votes were being taken for granted, as it became
increasingly obvious that their vote only counted as a one-way ticket
for groups, with entirely different agendas, to get to Putrajaya.
When Indians complained, they were told that they have to look at the
“bigger picture”. Do others really see the bigger picture? All are
nothing more than blind men and women trying to describe an elephant
to Indians, while being deaf to the cries of Indians that the elephant
is squashing them.
So now, Indians, after being ignored for more than 50 years, walk
alone again. But now Malaysian First-ers tell them that they are being
racist for doing so. When Indians choose to be neutral, they are again
told they are being racist. Racist? Isn’t Dong Jiao Zong highlighting
their issues along narrow, communal lines? Isn’t Sister-In-Islam doing
the same thing? No one calls them racist.
Indians don’t need to be taught how to be Malaysians through some
idealistic, feel-good, flag-waving, yipeekayay Malaysian First
program. They already know how to be Malaysian.
The irony isn’t lost on Indians. Nobody cared about the Indian vote
for decades, but all of the sudden, when Putrajaya is in sight, they
crave for Indian votes. The sad fact is that this is not about serving
the people who voted for them. This is not about bringing justice.
This is about a power trip. It’s like you say, that they are currently
burying their head in the sand and are waiting for the inevitable kick
in the rear. It’s also like you say, that it is wise to “…stick to
working towards the fulfillment of a dream any day, no matter how much
hard work it promises to be!”.
Now, there is criticism that HINDRAF/HRP is going is alone. Yet, if
you were there at BUM 2010, as I was, you would have seen Uthayakumar
(HRP), Teresak Kok (DAP) and Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS) seated
together…as Malaysians! It was an ideal opportunity to break the ice
and get all groups working together again. Unfortunately, the session
was hijacked by people who missed the woods for the trees. Whether
another opportunity like this comes along again, remains to be seen
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