(Malaysiakini) Hindraf splinter group Malaysian Indian Voice (MIV) today held their
first Hindraf-inspired rally, dubbed Indian Rights Action Force (Indraf)
2.0 in Brickfields today, with more than 1,000 pa…
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(Malaysiakini) Hindraf splinter group Malaysian Indian Voice (MIV) today held their
first Hindraf-inspired rally, dubbed Indian Rights Action Force (Indraf)
2.0 in Brickfields today, with more than 1,000 packing a hall to voice
support for Pakatan Rakyat.
Entitled
‘Unity Road with Pakatan Rakyat to Putrajaya’, the rally was
co-organised by a coalition of pro-Pakatan groups and individuals, such
as National Indians Action Team (Niat) chairperson Thasleem Mohamed and
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy under a newly-setup Indraf
protem committee.
Pakatan bigwigs graced the event, that is believed to be Pakatan’s own way of attempting to replicate Hindu rights group Hindraf’s mass mobilisation of the Indian community in 2007.
The event began at about 3pm with the singing of the national anthem, while the cheering crowd waved flags of the Pakatan parties.
They also displayed banners with their 10-point demands, which among others read ‘Hindraf will never bury the voice of Indian unity’, ‘The government should plan and implement a comprehensive policy for retirees’, and 'The government should put in place relevant measures to preserve and develop Tamil schools, language and literature’.
The MIV leaders, many of whom are Pakatan members, heaped praises on the opposition pact in their speeches and repeatedly urged the attendees to support Pakatan.
MIV chairperson V Raidu (at podium),
in his speech, commended Pakatan for successfully resolving a list of
longstanding problems affecting the Indian community within four years
of their administration in four states.
He also announced that the Selangor government has approved 120 sites for Indian temples.
“Let us be united to bring change and take over Putrajaya,” he said to a roar of applause.
In
between relay of speeches by more than 10 speakers from Pakatan and
MIV, some periods were devoted to the singing of a Tamil motivational
song and the chanting of “Long live Pakatan”, “Long live Indraf”, “Long
live MIV”.
Among the Pakatan leaders who attended the rally were opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu.
'Gov't must provide appropriate affirmative aid'
R Kengandharan, who was an Internal Security Act detainee under Hindraf, noted that a rightful government must provide appropriate affirmative aid to an underprivileged group, but that was not the case with the BN government.
“If
you have four children in a family and one is handicapped, then extra
attention must be given to the handicapped one,” he said.
He added that the Indian community has “wasted 55 years” with MIC and the time has come to clamour for change.
Meanwhile, Mohamad, or fondly known as Mat Sabu, in his speech accused the government of stirring up racial sentiments again as the general election looms.
He
said the demonisation of Bersih’s Malay supporters as backing a Hindu
woman is a clear instance that shows Umno cannot abandon racial
politics.
“But this is not a racial issues, this is about people’s rights. We will not waver but continue to strive to change the politics of this country,” he said.
The three-hour rally concluded with a round of cheers for Pakatan and a replay of the motivational song.
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Entitled
‘Unity Road with Pakatan Rakyat to Putrajaya’, the rally was
co-organised by a coalition of pro-Pakatan groups and individuals, such
as National Indians Action Team (Niat) chairperson Thasleem Mohamed and
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy under a newly-setup Indraf
protem committee.Pakatan bigwigs graced the event, that is believed to be Pakatan’s own way of attempting to replicate Hindu rights group Hindraf’s mass mobilisation of the Indian community in 2007.
The event began at about 3pm with the singing of the national anthem, while the cheering crowd waved flags of the Pakatan parties.
They also displayed banners with their 10-point demands, which among others read ‘Hindraf will never bury the voice of Indian unity’, ‘The government should plan and implement a comprehensive policy for retirees’, and 'The government should put in place relevant measures to preserve and develop Tamil schools, language and literature’.
The MIV leaders, many of whom are Pakatan members, heaped praises on the opposition pact in their speeches and repeatedly urged the attendees to support Pakatan.
MIV chairperson V Raidu (at podium),
in his speech, commended Pakatan for successfully resolving a list of
longstanding problems affecting the Indian community within four years
of their administration in four states.He also announced that the Selangor government has approved 120 sites for Indian temples.
“Let us be united to bring change and take over Putrajaya,” he said to a roar of applause.
In
between relay of speeches by more than 10 speakers from Pakatan and
MIV, some periods were devoted to the singing of a Tamil motivational
song and the chanting of “Long live Pakatan”, “Long live Indraf”, “Long
live MIV”. Among the Pakatan leaders who attended the rally were opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu.
'Gov't must provide appropriate affirmative aid'
R Kengandharan, who was an Internal Security Act detainee under Hindraf, noted that a rightful government must provide appropriate affirmative aid to an underprivileged group, but that was not the case with the BN government.
“If
you have four children in a family and one is handicapped, then extra
attention must be given to the handicapped one,” he said. He added that the Indian community has “wasted 55 years” with MIC and the time has come to clamour for change.
Meanwhile, Mohamad, or fondly known as Mat Sabu, in his speech accused the government of stirring up racial sentiments again as the general election looms.
He
said the demonisation of Bersih’s Malay supporters as backing a Hindu
woman is a clear instance that shows Umno cannot abandon racial
politics. “But this is not a racial issues, this is about people’s rights. We will not waver but continue to strive to change the politics of this country,” he said.
The three-hour rally concluded with a round of cheers for Pakatan and a replay of the motivational song.
Hindraf's latest strategic move to 
Meanwhile,
because of their lack of traction with Umno, Hindraf for whatever
reason is hoping that Pakatan-controlled areas would be more amenable to
their particular brand of politics. 
"The
general orientation of white liberals has been one of 'What can we do
for them?' What blacks can do for themselves has not only been of lesser
interest, much of what blacks have in fact already done for themselves
has been overshadowed by liberal attempts to get them special
dispensations - whether affirmative action, reparations for slavery, or
other race-based benefits - even when the net effect of these has been
much less than the effects of blacks' own self-advancement."
So
how does Pakatan deal with Hindraf? The glib answer would be, hope they
aren't as influential as they seem to think they are amongst the voting
Indian population. 
