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(Government’s response to Hindraf’s 2007 Rally. Image source: http://www.skthew.com)

25th November 2009 marks the 2nd anniversary of the unprecedented street rally by Indians under the now “banned but not crippled” organisation called Hindraf in this country.

From Wikipedia:-

The 2007 Hindraf rally was a rally held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on November 25, 2007.

The rally organizer, the Hindu Rights Action Force, had called the protest over alleged discriminatory policies which favour ethnic Malays. The rally was the second such street protest after the 2007 Bersih rally in Kuala Lumpur on November 10, 2007.

The rally started when a crowd estimated to be between 5,000 to 30,000 people gathered outside the Petronas Twin Towers at midnight, early Sunday morning. At least 240 people were detained, but half of them were later released.

Read Hindraf rally related posts:-

Hindraf protest – realistic way out?

Hindraf – not the end of the story

Hindraf – a year end thought

Hindraf – police and road blocks

Hindraf – a thorn that won’t go away

When Hindraf took to the streets in November 2007, certainly it was not done overnight. Hindraf existed long before that and often in thick of actions when it comes to demolishment of temples particularly in the state of Selangor.

Hindraf is a coalition of 30 Hindu non-governmental organizations committed to the preservation of Hindu community rights and heritage in a multiracial Malaysia (source)

Demolishment of temples under the old Selangor MB, Khir Toyo was one of the catalysts for the organisation to take the matter to the streets.

The case against Hindraf

Although the rally itself was tainted with accusations of being highly racist (that it only takes care of Indians and not Malaysians in general), that Hindraf is trying to seek help from a foreign sovereign instead of the Malaysian King who in fact is our real sovereign (which many called it as treason on the highest order) and some of the demands in the full list of demands was worded too extreme and unreasonable.

The police at one point even painted that there was a connection between Hindraf and the Tamil Elam Tigers who were fighting for separate state in Sri Lanka but it was a case that was never proven to this day.

Hindraf vs MIC

One of the biggest implications of the Hindraf’s rally, in my opinion, was that it created a room for many Indians to start questioning the role of MIC when it comes to the welfare of Indians in this country. Long before there was general election and long before MIC realised the lost of Indian support in the ballot box, there was already Hindraf movement all over the country participating in prayers in the many temples and getting involved when there are any issues affecting the community.

Hindraf’s role in getting involved in the community’s issues was a role that I think MIC could have played more effectively but with older issues like the Telekom shares remains unsettled, many have lost confidence in MIC’s ability to continue to champion the plight of the community. Hindraf provided the alternative avenue. What more when there was a lack of coordination and solution provided when it faced with demolishment of temples in Selangor? This is why PKR, DAP and even PAS managed to grab the big swing in Indian voters during the general election.

Makkal Sakthi

Another implication that resulted from Hindraf rally and before that with Bersih and protest against toll hike was the high handedness of the government when it comes to dealing with dissent voices of the people. Instead of friendly dialogue, forum or close knit communication, the response was often come in form of arrests, tear gas, water cannon and arrogant discard of issues. The Hindraf leaders were promptly arrested under the ISA and spent almost 2 years in custody. There was a clear lack of engagement between the government with the people and the problems facing all Malaysians.

The cry “Makkal Sakthi” (or People’s Power) became famous battle cry during the last general election and it has impact on all walk of life (not limiting to Indians under Hindraf). As V mentioned in the movie V for Vendetta –

“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people”

Next chapter

Admittedly Hindraf is now seen has lost their core objective, mainly due to several reasons such as some of the states where they were very active such as Perak and Selangor have fallen into the opposition hands, there has been more swing towards Indian welfare and focus on the problems faced by the community by the government under Najib’s administration and more importantly, due to breakup of Hindraf itself into many small factions including one who formed their own political party.

Hindraf’s rally for right or wrong, did achieve one thing that it was meant to do – that is to create awareness, both for the government and for the Indians who been ignorant of the issues facing the community.

Thankfully things are better under the Pakatan Rakyat’s administration (except perhaps on the Kampung Buah Pala incident) and to some extent, under Najib’s administration.

It is hoped that the government irregardless it is from BN or PR, to engage the issues with more conviction and effective rather than silencing them in swift harsh actions. Otherwise, Malaysians will be far from being one as Bangsa Malaysia and street rallies like the one organised by Hindraf will be part of our daily life.

It looks a case of Samy Vellu = MIC or rather MIC = Samy Vellu, forever and ever…

(Read my lips – I will resign if my No 2 man is ready but….. Image source: http://daylife.com)

Not a big fan of the ‘self claiming representatives’ of the Indian community (a mirage that was scattered by the Hindraf rallies) and whom backsides got whacked left, right and centre in the last general election but recent developments in calling the MIC supremo to stand down has been nothing but comical.

In recent months, if you have noticed, there has been a steady stream of attack against Samy Vellu – from the huge protest in last Maika shareholders’ meeting, the recent posts by Raja Petra on Samy Vellu, the recent disclosure of ‘what really happened’ with Maika shares, how Samy Vellu became the President due to missing votes and of course Dr M’s attacks on Samy Vellu.

What Dr M said about his ex-member in the cabinet was understandable but still a classic:-

‘In other countries, when a leader fails, he resigns voluntarily. In Japan, he commits harakiri (suicide). We are not asking him (Samy Vellu) to commit harakiri’.

(Source: Malaysiakini)

No one could be more direct than Dr. M but some people still don’t get the message, don’t they? Of course, that triggered the call for ‘shoe garland’ for Dr M but only after an overwhelming condemnation, Samy Vellu decided to act – the person who called for ‘shoe garland’ was swiftly disciplined and cornered Samy Vellu decided to throw in a challenge:-

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said he was prepared to hand over the leadership of the party “tomorrow” if his deputy Datuk G. Palanivel was ready to take over.

(Source: TheStar)

Samy Vellu preparing to leave the party was not something new – he have said many times and every time that happens, he is still in the helm of the party (I recall him saying the same thing – if the party members do not want him, he will leave).

The likelihood of Samy leaving with the issue of Maika shares still fresh on many frustrated Indians is very small. Remember Samy keep saying that he has some ‘unfinished business’ in MIC and therefore still hanging on to the post? The question is what is this unfinished business? Is it getting the Indians back on the prosperity or fortifying himself or getting things in order from future sanctions? If there is ‘unfinished business’, why can’t someone else take over and completes it? The argument of ‘unfinished business’ is getting too suspicious.

Well, that is what I think too – otherwise he would have left if not when UMNO’s Dr. M or MCA’s Lim Liong Sik left, at least when MIC got whacked in the last general election  – get the party revamped by someone new.

But no, he remained where he is and there is no sight of any change of guards at MIC at least for next few years.  There was talks of ‘rebranding’ but unsurprisingly it affected everyone else but him.

Then there was even pressure from the PM to get Samy Vellu to leave his seat and get someone else to take over. After all, both UMNO and MCA have changed their presidents since the departure of Dr. M, didn’t they?

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he would meet MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for the second time this year to discuss the party’s succession plan.

(Source: NST)

But the thing is – no body believed Samy Vellu when he said he is prepared to leave and true to the predictions, Palanivel decided not to take Samy Vellu’s challenge and decided to remain a loyal, quiet pussy:-

MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel has thrown the ball back to party chief Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu on when the long-serving MIC president will vacate the post.

(Source: TheStar)

Palanivel’s action to throw back the decision to vacant the president’s seat back to Samy was anticipated from day 1. After all, he is the president’s main man and next in line – surely he will not wish to ‘rock the boat’. So, while the battle for the pilot’s seat at MIC is still on-going (in the open and covertly), Najib have started to open another channel to reach out to the Indian community:-

The Prime Minister has accepted the invitation to launch the newly-formed Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party on Oct 10. The party, which was officially registered early this year, is a splinter group of the outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) which organised anti-government rallies in November 2007.

(Source: TheStar)

Does this means another nail has been struck on the coffin on Samy’s attempts to still clinging on the president’s seat in MIC? Whatever it is, it remains comical to see a desperate man clinging on the post whilst fighting off the call to step down with promises to step down in near future.

Compare : The Audacity of Hope By Hussein Abdul Hamid on 22/09/2009 to Hindraf’s interpretation of the Current Malaysian Political Reality By Naragan N on 23/09/2009

Read the first article first and then the second article. The first one still bullshit around politics about UMNO, Bro Anwar Bin Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Pok Nik, Najib, Paklah, Tun MM, BN, Pakatan Rakyat etc….

It talks about war against the current government… “Make no mistakes this is a war. It is the Rakyat that will fight this war. It is the Rakyat that will be in the front line. Pakatan Rakyat will be with us.” definately, this is what PR is doing… building up sentiment and issues so RAKYAT will be in the front line!!! When the RAKYAT win, PR will be there to hold the power on behalf of the RAKYAT… and bla bla bla…. this kind of bullshit is never ending so i was taken to compare to the next article from HINDRAF which is more focus on their looks and action. THE REALITY….

You can put any Tom, Dick, Harry or even Obama as a leader… but whats the underlying reality!! Even Obama have turn around many of his promises of CHANGE and who is he taking orders from?

While the second article talks about reality scenarios… difficulties, injusties and most interestingly about power elite.. thats where you hit the button. POWER ELITE… i think if u swap the current government with PR and Bro Anwar Bin Ibrahim, Kit Siang, Guan Eng, Karpal … what actually happen is the change of power to a NEW POWER ELITE..

So read both the article, u decide which is which and what is what…. to me the real issue today, there is too much politics in normal(non-politician) people life.. politics and real life is a totally different thing all together. Many people seems to know to talk about politics today.. especially blogger… tapi ok jugak la kot…. dapat jugak melepas perasaan…

Anyway.. happy Hari Raya & Holiday…happy deepavali, merry xmas and finally Happy New Year..

Since a two month old baby right up to my Form five, I was brought up in Tumpat, Kelantan. As teenagers, we prayed and played at the Sri Maha Mariaman Hindu Temple in Tumpat, Kelantan which was built by the then colonial days Railway working class Indians.

This Hindu temple is in a 99.99% Malay Muslim dominated population and ruled by PAS. During my last visit to this temple two years ago I was told that there are only two Indian families left in Tumpat. But our Hinldu temple stands right up to this day on the very main road leading into Tumpat town. I nostalgically showed my wife and children the Hindu temple which I grew up with. It is still the history and heritage of Kelantan right up to this date. This our Hindu temple could now be demolished or asked to be relocated as it is in a 99.99% Malay Muslim area or to be moved out of the state of Kelantan as it is in a “Serambi Mekah” State. I believe it would not even have crossed PAS’ Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Aziz’s mind. This is religious co-existence in practice in 99% Malay Muslim PAS ruled Kelantan. The biggest sleeping Buddha in the world is not in Thailand, Cambodia Sri Lanka or India where Buddhism originated from but it is in Kg. Neting, Tumpat Kelantan.

In multi racial and multi religious Malaysia it should be religious coexistence as opposed to  religious tolerance. Then we wont get the case of the UMNO majority and dominant area like in Section 19 and 22 of Shah Alam objecting to hindu temple because it is a Malay Muslim dominated area and the cow head protest by the religious extremist who were never arrested on sight and who would never be seriously prosecuted by the Attorney General in Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One Malaysia. And so the racism and religious extremism continues in Malaysia. In fact they had the support of even UMNO’s Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein who had justified their actions. To both the UMNO controlled Federal government and the PKR controlled Selangor state government and the other P.R ruled West Coast states you both have something to learn from PAS ruled Kelantan.

By the stroke of the pen vide a circular by Prime Minister Najib Razak, the PKR Selangor Menteri Besar the other P.R ruled Menteri Besars and Chief Minister, all existing Hindu temples could be issued with land titles and gazetted as Hindu temple reserves as is the case even in the 99% Malay reserve land State of Kelantan. This would put a stop and a finality to this new, unprecedented and unnecessary racial and religious division and tension in Malaysian.

Similarly this should also be done for all Hindu crematoriums Tamil Schools and Indian settlements like Kg. Buah Pala. This would actually solve half the Indian working class problems once and for all.

But in both the aforesaid UMNO, PKR in Selangor and the other West coast P.R ruled states, they are merely playing puppet shadow play (wayang kulit) politics using their Indian “mandores” via the print and electronic media by empty (kosong) announcements of the odd land for Hindu Temples, Tamil Schools and Crematoriums here and there and amplifying them as in the Malay proverb “Ayam telur sebiji rioh sekampong”. These State governments who wield almost absolute powers where it concerns their State land also do not issue a State government letter on the aforesaid odd land that they announce, issue land titles or gazette these Hindu temples, Tamil schools and Hindu crematoriums accordingly. Thus the current predicament of the working class Indians, the latest being in Kg. Buah Pala and Section 19 and 22, Shah Alam which is merely the tip of the iceberg of the Malaysian Indian working class critical problems.

Only in Malaysia and especially in the name of development, the first targets are Hindu temples, Hindu crematoriums Tamil schools and the poor Indian land settlers. We have recorded thousands of such cases. These problems hardly happens in the Malay, Chinese, Orang Asli, Iban or Kadazan communities in Malaysia. It happens almost only to the working class Indians. Why? But BN, PKR, DAP, PAS, NGOs’ and the Malaysian civil society all proclaim to be “multi-racial and multi-religious”.

All because the working class Indians have neither the political power or the economic clout and what follows is there are no takers for these critical Indian problems by almost all UMNO, PKR, DAP and PAS (except in Kelantan) NGOs’ and the Malaysian civil society.

Thank you.

Your faithfully,

________________________

P.Uthayakumar

Secretary General (pro-tem)

Human Rights Party (HRP)

By P. Waytha Moorthy, HINDRAF Chairman

HINDRAF is appalled by LGE’s continued political drama to see thru injustice for the residents in Kg Buah Pala. Although, he claims and acknowledges that there was fraudulent transaction, yet he blackmails the residents by producing a building plan with unreasonable conditions on August 6, 2009 to comply with it within one day for families that has lived on or about 200 years in the same land.

Why are you sanctioning a fraud when you should have acquired the land and returned what is rightfully belonging to the residents of Kg Buah Pala instead of making a deal and short changing them?

If you look at his press conference read out by his mandore Prof Ramasamy, it is nothing but gloating about the achievement of DAP and condemnation of the fraudulent transaction started by the UMNO led BN and gladly completed by the current government.

If LGE can talk so much about the fraudulent transaction, what did he do about it? He sat by and watched it be completed. When did he appoint an investigation committee to address the transaction when he was well aware of this fraudulent transaction even before he came into the power? Yes, it did not happen until the 1st week of July 2009 and what was the result of the  investigation committee as nothing has been revealed so far.

Was he really serious in assisting those residents with the investigating committee or it just another political game?

Many legal avenues were available for him to pursue the fraudulent transfer of the land starting from March 8, 2008, yet he sat on it hoping that it will pass by for poor and defenceless Kg Buah Pala residents who are insignificant for him as opposed to the Developers and the rich and mighty.

Section 340(2) of the NLC clearly spells out:
The title or interest of any such person or body shall not be indefeasible
(a) in any case of fraud or misrepresentation to which the person or body, or any agent of the person or body, was a party or privy; or
(b) where registration was obtained by forgery, or by means of an insufficient or void instrument; or
(c) where the title or interest was unlawfully acquired by the person or body in the purported exercise of any power or authority conferred by any written law.

Now show us the public what efforts had you undertaken to challenge the fraudulent land transfer other than clamouring that it was KSK’s fraudulent act and you can’t do anything about it. Doesn’t the law provide for such acts? Well you are the CM, you have the power and authority to challenge the transaction yet you positioned yourself with developers against those poor and defenceless Kg Buah Pala residents.

Nowhere does it exist in law that fraud is acceptable, when you yourself claim it is a fraudulent transaction. Is this the example you are setting for the rakyat?

In total you have just sanctioned fraud and acted just like another corrupted UMNO led BN government that is only interested in their own individual welfare as opposed to the public benefit.

Don’t even talk about the so-called $150 million compensation. Let HINDRAF enlighten you, the land was sold for RM3.2 Million and now you claim it is worth RM150 million. That means the price has rocketed to 2,343.75%. That even beats the property hike price of some high-end properties in New York and London before even construction had began. This can only happen in the BOLEHLAND.

Where is the logic that a RM10 per square feet increases by 2,343.75% in 15 months since the project was launched? Mind you if all the land was utilized notwithstanding the basic amenities such as community hall, tennis court, tadika, administration office, clinic, landscape and so forth. Then I guess the price is even higher per square foot.

LGE is definitely sounding like a broken record because we all know the malfeasances and that is why the rakyat elected you to power.

Unfortunately it is very clear that you play the same game that BN plays by blaming everything on BN without addressing the real issue being your inaction and your inability to initiate an action for the fraudulent land transfer against public benefit.

You admit fraud was committed, and then what did you do about it other than playing politics with the residents of Kg Buah Pala at the 11th hour when you have been in power for the last 17 months to initiate proceedings for the fraudulent land transfer.

The latest proposal that you put forward to the residents on behalf of the Developer is so ludicrous.

You think that you have negotiated the best deal for the residents with a gun onto their head. HINDRAF is totally disappointed with your continues drama that only appears to be that you are actually the mouthpiece for the Developer rather than the plight of the Kg Buah Pala residents. Is it reasonable, just and fair that, within one day 41 families needs to make a decision, uproot and move on the unreasonable conditions of the Developer? People at least have choice to make, but what happens to all the innocent animals, sent to the slaughterhouse?

HINDRAF feels LGE is a CM for the Developer and their mouthpiece and not one who has been transparent at least in his dealings with the Kg Buah Pala issue for reasons known best to himself.

HINDRAF feels this is clear hypocrisy on the part of the DAP led Pakatan government in Penang for their lack of political will to safeguard the interest of their citizenry in Kg Buah Pala.

HINDRAF cries with those Kg Buah Pala residents who have been deceived and blackmailed to be deprived from their ancestral homes for a simple reason that with the change and the promises given to them, they had faith in you and your government blindly on the basis of trust that you would be just and fair for the truth in this matter.

All in all, some 20,000 to 30,000 people participated in the anti-ISA rally last Saturday.

I did not join, because I am not by nature a street protester. But that doesn’t mean I don’t support the case or that I do not agree with demonstrations. It just means that personally prefer to not protest on the streets.

HINDRAF, however, has taken it to the streets before. That was in 2007. It lead to the detention of five HINDRAF leaders under the ISA.

Many demanded for their release, along with other ISA detainees. They fought HINDRAF’s cause to free its leaders.

Then our prime minister came to power and he released all HINDRAF detainees. The organization splintered into many different entities.

Yet none of them were present last Saturday.

Why? Civil society pressured so hard for the release of the HINDRAF five, now you’re going to abandon the cause because your leaders are free? Are you going to do an Ibrahim Ali in saying that the ISA is ‘needed’ even though your leaders have been detained under the law before?

What’s your stand on the ISA now, HINDRAF?

I could not believe this! Talk about bad timing.

(When will PDRM ever learn? Putting up massive road blocks will never be the solution when there is a massive rally in the city. Image source: Malaysiakini)

Last year, me and my cousin decided to go for our “quarterly” blood donation but we got involved in the mother of traffic jam when the morons at the Home Ministry decided to put up road blocks and made road users to experience hell.

Reason for road block? To look for highly wanted criminals? No. To look for some rouge road users? No. To look for someone with a highly contagious diseases? No. The road block was put up a day early when Hindraf announced their “Rose Campaign”.

The road blocks did not stop the Hindraf’s campaign from taking place but the road blocks did make many road users who are not involved in the Hindraf’s campaign frustrated and angry, stuck in traffic jams for hours.

(One wonders what will happen when the “anti ISA” and “pro ISA” meet up at Istana Negara? Go for teh-tarik with the King? Image source: Malaysiakini)

Fast forward to 2009 – after several postponements, we decided to go for the next blood donation on this Saturday. We are aware of the large “anti ISA” and “pro ISA” gathering in the city and the outcome of this gathering could be bloody. We don’t really care what happens in the city centre, we will be far from it but the morons at the Home Ministry are having the usual “itch” on massive road blocks.

And the latest news snippets from Malaysiakini does not looking too promising:-

The biggest opposition party in the country has ordered its one million members to take part in an anti-ISA protest in KL tomorrow

And

Police have set up roadblocks at major traffic arteries throughout the Klang Valley towards Kuala Lumpur ahead of two mass rallies planned for tomorrow.

We have been thinking of “postponing” again our blood donation but we will be busy next week and we do not know when we can fix the right date for blood donation. Not much choice but as what we did last year, I guess we need to slog it out in the traffic jam to finish our task. But still, I know that we are going to get “fucked” at the road blocks! We are going to waste productive time and fuel for nothing.

Probably leaving home early and with a full tank and plenty titbits and food in the car would be helpful.

Lately, there have been many skeptism and criticism on the path of HINDRAF with the formation of the Human Right Party Malaysia by P. Uthayakumar.

Hindraf would like to state it would stay independent and apolitical to continue its battle for the voiceless and marginalised segment of the community and to champion their cause. Our goal from the beginning has been to highlight the plight of the neglected Indian community so that the ruling government will make constructive and concrete efforts to allow them to participate in the socio- development of the nation with equality and fairness.

Hindraf to-date have not swayed from its original goals and will continue addressing the issues of the neglected ones without any fear or favour. The confusion and skeptism amongst the public is created and fuelled to split the awareness on the fate of those marginalised segment of the population for each politician’s own agenda.

Hindraf will continue to operate as an organisation along with its current coordinators throughout Malaysia and internationally in carrying out its activities with the original objective for the marginalised community.

Hindraf would however support the Indian Political empowerment plan devised by Uthayakumar during his 514 days in detention under the ISA and would render its assistance where possible.

Hindraf reiterates, it will raise and question issues whether it is Umno-led BN, Pakatan and even the newly formed HRP if moral chaos permeates where these politicians continue to fail to uphold their governance in a fairly and just manner for the poor and undefended.

Our recent stand on the Kg Buah Pala issue in Penang will speak of our stand on truth and justice even if it means ending our friendship with the DAP led- government in Penang.

To the Hindraf supporters and well-wishers, I thank you all for your continuous support to recognise that we are a movement of conscience for the common future that we want to create in Malaysia for all of us.

P.Waythamoorthy
HINDRAF – CHAIRMAN

SUARA KEADILAN

By Kenny Gan

The call by Hindraf to mobilize its supporters to demonstrate against Pakatan Rakyat over the Kampung Buah Pala affair must have BN leaders smirking in glee.

The thorn in their side is now turning against its onetime ally and now the opposition will have a taste of the rowdy Hindraf medicine. Will thousands of angry Indians gather and storm DAP offices around the country?

But as it turns out the call to action by Hindraf was a non-event.

The demonstration by a mere 15 persons in front of the DAP headquarters at Petaling Jaya fizzled out in 10 minutes when police who outnumber the demonstrators arrived to scatter the tiny group.

What has happened to Hindraf? Is it a spent force now?

Before we answer this question, it is worthwhile going back to recapitulate the events that led to the formation of Hindraf and the journey it has gone through.

The Birth of a Mass Movement

Hindu Rights Action Force or Hindraf was originally formed with the objective to fight the wanton demolition of Hindu temples and shrines, which the BN government had given scant regard to in the headlong rush for development.

Its objectives soon expanded to champion the rights of downtrodden and marginalized Indians all over the country.

Hindraf caught the government’s attention when it mobilized a huge demonstration of 50,000 people in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 2007.

Soon after the event, five of the Hindraf leaders were detained under ISA , referred to as the Hindraf 5, including Uthayakumar. His brother and Hindraf chairman Waythamoorthy fled to London to manage the movement by remote control.

Hindraf managed to tap into a deep undercurrent of discontent in the Indian community which had generally fallen behind the Malays and Chinese in economic development.

But instead of engaging Hindraf in dialogue, the government made the mistake of detaining its leaders under ISA which angered the Indians.

Then came the general election of March 2008 which dealt BN a humiliating loss of 5 states and their customary two-thirds majority in Parliament. The Indians swung strongly against BN from 83% support in 2004 to 48% in 2008, leading many MIC leaders including Samy Vellu to lose their seats.

Hindraf leaders are fond of saying that Hindraf caused the 2008 political tsunami but this cannot be the sole reason or even the main reason.

The movement may have raised awareness amongst the Indian community that they have been marginalized but with Indians comprising less than 8% of the population and no Indian majority seats, the tsunami could not have been caused by Hindraf. It was caused by all races.

The Race-Based Politics of Hindraf

In the post-tsunami period, Hindraf popularity began to decline.

Hindraf decline would have been faster had the government not unwittingly sustained it by continuing to keep its 5 leaders under ISA detention and continually harassing the movement.

The aftermath of the 12th general election saw a paradigm shift from the communal politics of BN to a preference for the multi-racial politics of PR.

But Hindraf was unable to adjust to the new paradigm. It continued to push a mono-ethnic agenda of championing Indian rights only.

Initially, Hindraf enjoyed multi-racial support from all races but as it was unable to move out of its mono-ethnic agenda, support has begun bleeding away from non-Indians and even from the Indians themselves.

The race-based objectives of Hindraf is actually a reflection of the racial politics of BN, where each race is championed by a race-based political party. Such a system has resulted in rewarding the strong and marginalizing the weak.

But instead of moving away from this system by fighting for issues irrespective of race, Hindraf is unable to break out of the racial silos set up by BN since Independence.

To the Indian community, the militant, radical and extremist methods of Hindraf employing the use of threats and mass demonstrations are clearly unsustainable.

If Hindraf had been successful in uniting the Indians into a radical ethnic group to demand for their rights, it would have alarmed the other races to unite and demand for their rights as well. The Indian community may be beginning to feel uncomfortable with Hindraf and rightly so.

Hindraf and Pakatan Rakyat

Soon after the general elections, Hindraf began to attack and condemn the young PR state governments as not doing enough for Indians.

This despite the fact that in the PR governed states, Indians have been appointed to important government positions and assistance given to Tamil schools and Hindu temples as part of an encompassing program to assist vernacular schools, religious schools and places of worship.

The clash was predictable due to the differing ideology between PR and Hindraf.

PR agenda is to assist the underprivileged of all races based on need so that all races are uplifted together, while Hindraf demands that Indians be given special treatment.

Hence to Hindraf, PR can never do enough for Indians as long as it does not give special affirmative action to Indians.

Affirmative action based on any criteria other than need alone is of course a recipe for disaster as resources are soon hijacked by the privileged few who are strong enough to grab them. This has happened to BN affirmative action for Malays, so Hindraf is again unwittingly propagating a defective system which would have created another Samy Vellu.

In Hindraf view, the Indians have been left so far behind that they require special help. This is unnecessary as any affirmative action based on need will automatically distribute more help the most needy.

If indeed Indians are the most needy, they will get the most help. Besides, one must not forget that the poverty exists in all ethnic groups including Malays, Chinese, Orang Asli and East Malaysian natives.

Hindraf is also on the wrong track as the future of the Indian community cannot be uplifted by fighting for piecemeal issues such as Hindu temples, Tamil schools, civil service employment and other demands by Hindraf.

The race-based political system has failed the Indians and for them to be drawn back into the mainstream of national development, it requires nothing less than a change of federal government and a new multi-racial political system which discards the baggage of the past.

But Hindraf has lost its way. Instead of helping PR effect sweeping political change, its myopic and parochial vision has caused it to attack PR instead and even worse, to help propagate a system which has marginalized the Indian community.

A Hindraf Political Party

Turning Hindraf into a political party will kill whatever is left of the movement but despite this, Uthayakumar is set to launch a new political party called Parti Hak Asasi Manusia or Paham on 19 July.

The Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) formed by former Hindraf national coordinator Thanenthiran hoping to ride on the Hindraf popularity should not be mistaken with Hindraf. None of the top Hindraf leaders have endorsed this party.

As a pressure group, Hindraf can do what a political party cannot – straddle both sides of the political divide.

An Indian based political party will have to be aligned to either BN or PR as no independent Indian party can make any headway due to unfavourable demography and the lack of any Indian majority seats.

The likes of IPF and MUIP now have MMSP to keep them company in the political wilderness.

It would be illusory for anybody to imagine that as political party, Hindraf can act as a third force. It cannot run with the hares and hunt with the hounds. Neither can it hope to play off one political coalition against another. Once a political alignment is chosen, it is by no means easy to change sides.

As the mono-ethnic agenda of Hindraf makes it a better fit to BN communal politics, such a political party will probably be aligned to BN but Hindraf is mistaken if it thinks it can twist the race based politics of BN to its advantage.

But the crux is that any association with BN may drive away whatever support Hindraf has left, as the MMSP can testify to. The mere suspicion of association with the ruling party due to the swift approval of its registration has turned out to be toxic.

Where to, Hindraf?

With the release of all the Hindraf 5 leaders the emotional linkages between the Indians and Hindraf will gradually wither away.

Hindraf cannot continue to depend on the support of the Indians community based on emotional sentiment. Whatever support Hindraf can continue to command must be the result of its policies and actions.

A wholly ethnocentric approach to the Indian problem will find no multi-racial support which it sorely needs and may not even appeal to the majority of Indians who like many other Malaysians prefer a multi-racial approach.

Attacking PR is a mistake and the Hindraf response to the Kampung Buah Pala issue is a culmination of that mistake.

More support has been lost with Waythamoorthy and Uthayakumar threatening the Penang government with harsh words and mass demonstrations although the state government was trying its best to help the villagers within its powers and the law.

One wonders if the harsh stance Hindraf is taking towards PR over this issue is a prelude to it moving closer to BN.

But the days when Hindraf can mobilize thousands of Indians to the streets are over. Hindraf has lost steam and it will continue to flounder unless it can discard its racial lens and more importantly, find new ways to tackle issues instead of resorting to hard approaches.

Unless of course, Waythamoorthy returns from exile and the government puts him under ISA. This will then be bound to give the movement a much-needed second wind!