Manoharan: All reps should take up Indian problems

Every Pakatan representative should look at the problems of all, instead of focusing on only one community, says Selangor assemblyman M Manoharan.

KUALA LUMPUR: Every Pakatan Rakyat elected representative should take up the problems affecting Indians instead of depending on so-called “Indian leaders”.

Kota Alam Shah state assemblyman M Manoharan (DAP) said Pakatan should not adopt the Barisan Nasional (BN) approach where issues pertaining to certain communities were handled by a representative of that community.

“Pakatan leaders should stop hunting for Indian leaders whenever issues pertaining to Indians are brought up,” Manoharan told FMT.

“I’m happy to see that some of the non-Indian representatives are raising issues affecting the Indian community at the State Legislative Assembly,” he added.

Manoharan, a lawyer, said that in his constituency, 60% of the voters were Chinese, followed by Indians (about 25 %) and Malays (17 %).

“I can’t allow myself to be seen as championing only the Indians; if I allow myself to do that, then I will be labelled a ‘racist’,” he said.

Not enough Indian reps
However, Manoharan acknowledged that it was almost impossible to solve issues affecting Indians by the three Indian Pakatan representatives at the Selangor state assembly.

Besides Manoharan, the others are Dr Xavier Jayakumar (Seri Andalas) and M Muthiah (Bukit Melawati).
“No Indian can solve the Indian problems without the help of non-Indian leaders. It can only be done with the support of Malay and Chinese leaders.”

He said that Indian representatives in the state exco line-up were given low-key portfolios.
“It has been in practice among BN component parties and the same formula has been adopted in Pakatan,” said Manoharan.