Hindraf blueprint – the micro view that masks the bigger problem

Written by Joe Fernandez

The Hindraf blueprint gets into some immediate specifics for the Indian Nation in Malaysia, especially the underclass.

A peanut figure of RM 4.5 billion has been mentioned.

More importantly, the problems between Hindraf and BN/PR can only be resolved on a macro basis if both sides of the political divide accept that:

• the Sapu Bersih deviations and distortions in the implementation of Article 153 and the NEP – shades of apartheid, Nazism, fascism, communism, political Islam, caste system – must be ended;
• the Government of the day must stop enacting administrative laws (not law at all but government policies in action) which are anti-non-Malay minorities and anti-upward social mobility for the non-Malays. There's a case for a Ministry of Orang Asal and Minority Affairs (MOAMA)
• the Syariah and the Syariah Court must not intrude into civil law
• Islam must be kept in its proper perspective as per Article 3 of the Federal Constitution which doesn't mention an official religion; and
• ‘change’ must mean change of the ruling party at regular intervals through free and fair elections.

The macro aspects are far more important than the specifics in the Hindraf blueprint.

Why is that no Chinaman including DAP is saying anything about this?

Hindraf can't stand alone in this.

That's why they concentrated on some immediate specifics for the Indian Nation in Malaysia, especially the underclass, and ignored the macro aspects which are far more important for the nation.

The transformation and the reformasi preached about by the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) are exercises in hypocrisy. There's no evidence of real change in their approaches. BN is all about self-preservation i.e. the more things appear to change, the more they will remain the same. PR doesn't know whether it's coming or going.

BN must also remember that the change that the people seek is the right to replace the ruling party/coalition at regular intervals, say every two or three terms. BN has been in power 56 years in Malaya and 50 years in Borneo. Is it saying that it must continue to rule Malaysia indefinitely?

To distort the message, the BN is throwing the people's money at them in a desperate attempt to bribe its way back into power for yet another five years. The Attorney-General needs to have his head examined for declaring that the BN cash handouts to the people are not bribes or a form of electoral fraud and/or corruption. He has even gone on further to insult the intelligence of the people by declaring that the BN cash handouts, among others, can continue until polling day.

In Egypt, the opposition failed to overthrow the Mubarak government through the ballot box.

Eventually, the people had to take to the streets. By that time, the Mubarak government refused to enter into any dialogue with the people for an interim government, composed of both sides of the political divide, for free and fair elections. In that sense, Mubarak, like Muammar Gaddafi in neighbouring Libya, dug his grave.

BN's day of reckoning is coming.

Either it gives up power peacefully, not cling on by hook or crook, or face the people's wrath in the streets. The clock has begun ticking, albeit belatedly, after 56 years. The BN will be forced out of power sooner rather than later.