Perhaps it is time MIC take a break from the Malaysian political scene and reflect on its role, relevance and existence as the sole party for Indians in the country – not only as far as representation is concerned but also to “look after” the socio-economic welfare of the Indians in Malaysia.
An MIC spokesman yesterday had taken a swipe at Marina Mahathir, claiming former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir cannot be considered as “Gandhi” and that “MIC and the other component parties lost in 2008 and are still fighting to remain relevant because of the racist policies and strategies implemented by Tun Mahathir during his time as PM”.
There are 2 things that stand out in the foolish statement made by MIC Youth leader Sivarraajh Chandran against Marina Mahathir and Malaysians alike deserve an answer to these questions.
One, was MIC an active component member of the Barisan Nasional government from 1981 to 2003? Did MIC not field Indian candidates in 5 General Elections from 1982 to 1999 under the BN flag and under Dr Mahathir’s leadership? Did MIC not have councillors, state-assemblymen, Parliamentarians, Senators and Ministers in the Cabinet at the time when Dr Mahathir implemented his “racist policies and strategies”?
If yes, then what on earth were MIC leaders, from 1981 to 2003 doing when these racist policies and strategies came into existence by their Prime Minister at that time? Why did they not question, challenge, object and protest against these racist policies when they convened for Budget meetings, for national policy draftings, for nation-building meetings, for race-policy meetings with Dr Mahathir Mohamad at that time? How convenient it must be now for MIC to shamelessly sling mud against Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he is no more in power rather than stand up and criticise him to his policies when the need arose for them to speak.
MIC’s response to Marina was a blow below the belt, cheap and classless. List down your achievements for the Indian community after being at the helm of power from 1946 till 2016, for a whopping 70 years instead of lamenting pitifully of policies when they were in the position to change it!
Secondly, MIC laments that they and other component parties are fighting to stay relevant because of these race based policies. They were playing Devil’s advocate when these race based policies were drafted, debated and passed at all levels of administration in that period and even now. Wake up and face the reality that Malaysians have no more faith in you or in your bosses, UMNO/BN. This was clearly proven in the last General Election when MCA, MIC and Gerakan suffered defeating blows through the mandate of the rakyat that ‘enough is enough’. While Malaysians are maturing and slowly discarding race-based politics and policies, here we have, MIC a race based party, the champions of the Indians, crying wolf that they are victims of discriminatory race policies and strategies by the very government they are still a part of.
Will MIC now, grow a spine, and leave the BN coalition because of the existing race based policies and strategies?
Is MIC saying now that these racist policies and strategies don’t exist under Najib and UMNO/BN’s authoritarian rule?
I would like to remind Sivarraajh Chandran, his MIC leaders and also to MCA and Gerakan, it is better to die standing than to live on your knees, as said by Penang CM YAB Lim Guan Eng.