Speech by M.Kula Segaran at DAP Ceramah on "interlock" in Kg.Tun Sambatan, Pantai Remis on Sunday, 24^th April 2011:

The Indian voters must play the King Maker role again to bring about a second political tsunami in the next general election

Come the next general election, the Indian voters must play the King Maker role again to bring about a second political tsunami and deal the arrogant BN and spineless MIC with their worst ever electoral defeat. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Muhyiddin said that the Interlok issue has been resolved.

But the government knows s too well that the issue is not over.

The government knows the Indian community still demands that the novel be withdrawn as a school text.

The government knows too that the book is not suitable for use as a school text.

It knows that the factual inaccuracies and distortions in the contents of the novel have hurt the feelings of the Indian community.

Why then is the government still so adamant in its stand not to withdraw the novel from being used as a school text?

The reason is because the BN government is still the same insensitive and arrogant government that it was before the 2008 general election.

Despite having suffered its worst electoral debacle in the previous general election, it has not learnt its lesson.

It is obvious that the BN government now believes that the Interlok issue will not affect the BN's electoral performance in the coming general election.

It is also obvious that, with the swing back of some Indian support towards BN in the recent by elections, MIC is also confident that Interlok has become a non issue.

This explains why though the Interlok issue is still unresolved; MIC Youth chief Mohan could openly declare that Indians have backed BN again.

Let me ask MIC what is its stand on the Interlok issue? Does MIC regard the issue as resolved?

Interlok issue is only over for the BN government which is insensitive and arrogant.

Interlok issue is only a non issue to the MIC which has no backbone to fight for the novel's withdrawal as a school text.

Interlok issue is certainly not over for those who can see that the novel is not suitable as a school text.

It is not over for those who know that its usage will spew poison among the young and will not help in forging racial harmony.

Interlok is definitely and cannot be over for those who have been hurt by the novel's contents as well as the BN's government's insensitivity and arrogance.

If BN government continues to ignore the people's voice, then the Indian community must make their demand through their powerful weapon - their votes in the coming general election.

The Indian community's King Maker role in the 2008 general election has dealt BN its worst electoral debacle.

Come the next general election, the Indian voters must play the King Maker role again to bring about a second political tsunami and deal the arrogant BN and spineless MIC with their worst ever electoral defeat.

* M. Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman & MP for Ipoh Barat