KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 – Hindraf is in a state of flux after rising dramatically to national prominence with the November 2007 protest that sparked a politically awakening among Malaysian Indians.
For the first time in five decades, a majority of Indians voted against the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the March 8, 2008 general election, helping to change the country’s political landscape.
But since then the movement has splintered.
While one faction wants to convert Hindraf into a full-fledged political party, others want to keep it as a purely religious organisation fighting to promote Hinduism and defend the temples.
A third faction wants to keep Hindraf as an apolitical – but allied with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) – socio-political pressure group raising issues pertinent to the Indian community.
Finally, a fourth faction believes Hindraf should be an apolitical pressure group, allied with no one, out to get the best for the community from either PR or BN.
In a telephone interview from London, lawyer and Hindraf chairman Waythamoorthy Ponnusamy gives answers to where the movement stands on some of these issues and what is in store for the future.
To some of the questions, Waythamoorthy has the “for the moment” caveat indicating that he and his brother Uthayakumar, who is in ISA detention, are keeping their options open on all fronts.
Q: Will Hindraf be turned into a political party?
A: No…not for the moment. We are apolitical. I don’t have any political ambitions but we have many political friends who speak up for our agenda. Hindraf has political friends everywhere but Hindraf itself is apolitical.
Q: So what are you really?
A: We are a pressure group with many political friends. We support our political friends when they need our support. And they should support our agenda.
Q: What is your agenda?
A: Our agenda is to improve the lot of the poorer Indians in the Indian community and to defend temples and the Hindu religion and to promote and defend Tamil schools. To get as much allocation from public funds to these areas to resolve problems that have remained unresolved since independence.
Q: The new government headed by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has allocated some RM80 million for Tamil schools and has in general promised more for the Indian community. Are you satisfied? Do you see this as positive start?
A: No. The allocation is peanuts compared to the seriousness of the situation faced by Tamil schools, and their neglect. If shared equally, each school probably would get enough to just build a canteen.
The government must come up with a comprehensive, long term programme to alleviate the plight – lack of funds, untrained teachers, and poor facilities, ownership of land, titles and recognition of vernacular education as integral to the education system of the country. We are citizens and we have a right to the public resources.
Q: Is it not a positive start?
A: Yes but the amount is small and, besides, the allocations are channelled through the MIC which is a political party that has been rejected by the Indian community. As long as the government deals through the MIC, we are unhappy and will not accept or co-operate. The government has to deal with us.
Q: Are you prepared to negotiate with the government?
A: We are prepared to negotiate with anyone for the betterment of the Indian community.
Q: Some Hindraf founder members are adamant in wanting to form a political party. What is your response?
A: I can’t hold them back. Thanenthiran (Hindraf national coordinator) is one of them. He thinks we need a political platform to better serve the Indian community.
My stand is that we must, for the moment, remain apolitical. But if anyone wants to form a political party, it is their business. I can’t hold them back, I can’t tell them “don’t do it”. But for now Hindraf is apolitical.
Q: What is the real impact of the Nov 25 protest?
A: The real impact is the sea change it brought in the mindset of the Indians. Overnight, the protest awakened the Indians. Nearly 70% of Indians havee had their mindset changed and they bravely voted opposition, which they hope would change their lives.
Q: Are you satisfied with the performance of the Pakatan Rakyat in alleviating the community’s woes?
A: No, we are not satisfied. They have done little. We are disappointed that they are not treating Indian woes seriously. They have not given priority to our plight. Many of the Pakatan leaders don't have the faintest idea what are our problems and how to tackle them. They control four state governments and they can resolve the important land issues facing temples and Tamil schools. They must get serious on it.
Q: What are you doing about the alleged “lack of seriousness” by the Pakatan leaders?
A: We are constantly raising the issues with them. Having meetings abroad with them and we are going to tell them soon that they had better get cracking or face the wrath of the Indian poor in the next general election.
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