(Malaysiakini) DAP is accusing MIC and Umno of failing to address the dire social problems faced by marginalised Malaysian Indians in the country.
DAP national vice-chief M Kulasegaran (left) claims the Indian community, that represents under 10 percent of the country's total population, faces the highest rate of social problems when compared to the other communities.
He says these include: the highest rate of school dropouts, the highest illiteracy rate, the highest suicide rate, the highest rate of alcoholism, the highest incidence of single motherhood, the highest number not possessing birth certificates and identity cards, and the highest number of jail detainees.
As an example, he cited that 40 percent of detainees at Simpang Renggam detention camp are Indians.
He says that while both MIC and Umno had taken the community for granted as traditionally loyal supporters of the BN, they had neglected to address their social ills for the past 53 years.
“If MIC had only been effective in fighting for the rights of Indians, the Indians would not have been so marginalised with so many problems unresolved,” said the DAP leader angrily.
Foreign countries like the USA have acknowledged the Indian race for their brains and their potential for of human development, yet Malaysia has failed to tap this vast potential for the economic advancement of the nation, said Kula, who is also party state deputy chief and Ipoh Barat MP.
He is calling for the Indian community to break away from the shackles of BN domination in controlling their socio-economic environment and take control of their political destiny.
'Reprise kingmaker role'
He reminded the Indians that they must again rise up to the occasion and reprise their role as kingmakers in the next general election to deal BN its worst electoral defeat.
The fiery demonstrations by the Indian community prior to the last general election is often cited as one of the key contributing factors to the 'political tsunami' against the ruling party.
He warned the community not to fall for titbits that BN is dishing out now in the hope of regaining the support of Malaysian Indians.
He warned that many BN politicians believe that Indian voter will swing back to the BN like a pendulum once their anger has cooled, and that Indians can be easily pacified by dishing them some political goodies.
He criticised Najib Abdul Razak's cabinet committee for the Indian community that the premier chairs, saying it has yielded no policy changes to make a difference.
“I wish to remind the Indian voters that MIC and the BN government have not changed much or done much for the community since the 2008 general election,” he said.
He was speaking at a Tamil dinner at Dewan Kutien in Ayer Tawar organised by DAP on Saturday.
Other Pakatan speakers at the function included former menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, DAP state chief Ngeh Koo Ham and PSM Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar.
DAP national vice-chief M Kulasegaran (left) claims the Indian community, that represents under 10 percent of the country's total population, faces the highest rate of social problems when compared to the other communities.He says these include: the highest rate of school dropouts, the highest illiteracy rate, the highest suicide rate, the highest rate of alcoholism, the highest incidence of single motherhood, the highest number not possessing birth certificates and identity cards, and the highest number of jail detainees.
As an example, he cited that 40 percent of detainees at Simpang Renggam detention camp are Indians.
He says that while both MIC and Umno had taken the community for granted as traditionally loyal supporters of the BN, they had neglected to address their social ills for the past 53 years.
“If MIC had only been effective in fighting for the rights of Indians, the Indians would not have been so marginalised with so many problems unresolved,” said the DAP leader angrily.Foreign countries like the USA have acknowledged the Indian race for their brains and their potential for of human development, yet Malaysia has failed to tap this vast potential for the economic advancement of the nation, said Kula, who is also party state deputy chief and Ipoh Barat MP.
He is calling for the Indian community to break away from the shackles of BN domination in controlling their socio-economic environment and take control of their political destiny.
'Reprise kingmaker role'
He reminded the Indians that they must again rise up to the occasion and reprise their role as kingmakers in the next general election to deal BN its worst electoral defeat.
The fiery demonstrations by the Indian community prior to the last general election is often cited as one of the key contributing factors to the 'political tsunami' against the ruling party.He warned the community not to fall for titbits that BN is dishing out now in the hope of regaining the support of Malaysian Indians.
He warned that many BN politicians believe that Indian voter will swing back to the BN like a pendulum once their anger has cooled, and that Indians can be easily pacified by dishing them some political goodies.
He criticised Najib Abdul Razak's cabinet committee for the Indian community that the premier chairs, saying it has yielded no policy changes to make a difference.
“I wish to remind the Indian voters that MIC and the BN government have not changed much or done much for the community since the 2008 general election,” he said.
He was speaking at a Tamil dinner at Dewan Kutien in Ayer Tawar organised by DAP on Saturday.
Other Pakatan speakers at the function included former menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, DAP state chief Ngeh Koo Ham and PSM Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar.
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