Press Statement by Charles Santiago in Klang on
Sunday, 24th August 2008:
Abdullah’s assurance to look into
HINDRAF’s 18-point memorandum on the eve of the Permatang Pauh
by-election’s reeks of desperation and disingenuousness
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi's surprise visit to the Karumariamman temple in Seberang Jaya is
clearly a strategy to win over Indian votes at the Permatang Pauh by
election.
It is a disingenuous move on the part of the premier whose government is
yet to come up with a durable solution to solve the many woes faced by
the minority Indian community in the country. The community is
discriminated upon in terms of educational, housing, employment and
business opportunities, among others.
Abdullah must first release the five HINDRAF leaders who are being held
under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows for
detention without trial. Without their release, his assurance to look
into the 18-point memorandum by the Hindu group would remain a mere
curtain raiser to the electoral campaign.
The ruling coalition's humiliating defeat at the March polls is largely
attributed to Abdullah's and BNs many missteps and shoddy policy
decisions. Despite the political setback and widespread anger against
the BN and UMNO in particular, Abdullah continues to make pathetic
statements.
The prime minister's appeal to vote for Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah as the
Indians need someone to look after them reeks of ignorance. It is the
responsibility of the state to look into the welfare of a minority
community including the poor of all races in the country.
Malaysians have traditionally voted along racial lines. The Malays voted
UMNO, Chinese showed their support for the MCA and the Indians threw
their support behind the MIC. This arrangement only worked for as long
as the different races believed that only their parties could help look
after their interests. But it changed drastically when people including
minorities became increasingly disillusioned with their political
leaders.
Thus, reversing the ban on the license for metal traders is not enough
to woo Indian voters. The government must come up with both short and
long term plans with a set of feasible targets and deadline to uplift
the socioeconomic condition of the community. Failing this, the Indians
will again totally abandon the ruling coalition as they did on March
2008.
* Charles Santiago, MP for Klang
http://dapmalaysia.org