The director general of the unit of Socioeconomic Development of Indian Community (Sedic), NS Rajendran, a former academic, might be engaging in wishful thinking by saying that the Malaysian Indian Blueprint (MIB) is finally “working”.
He pointed that Sedic had engaged extensively with stakeholders and has come to the point where issues have been identified so that successful implementation could take place.
He even said that DAP’s member of parliament for Klang, Charles Santiago has endorsed the MIB by calling it a comprehensive document. But at the same time he did not mention some of the reservations that Santiago had regarding the document.
Even before the MIB could take off, Rajenderan being the person in charge of the programme, has come to the conclusion, perhaps told by his masters, that the programme is on the way to achieve success.
Rajendran might not be directly involved in BN politics, but he is fully aware that he has to take instructions from the Prime Minister’s Office especially at a time when the country is preparing for the 14th general election.
So the statement by him that MIB was “working” well is a political rhetoric, done on the behest of those in BN.
Of course, he knows the problems that stand in the way of the successful implementation of the document. But unfortunately as “civil servant”, he has to abide by the dictates of his political masters.
As I have remarked numerous times in the past, the MIB is a political document to beget the support of Indians in the coming general election. It has nothing to do with the advancement of the community.
In the last 60 years or so, too many programmes and projects meant to uplift the Indian community have miserably failed. What makes Rajendran so sure that MIB would by any different?
MIB might be called a comprehensive document, the glossy nature of the document, the impressive charts and statistics about Indians give it some semblance of seriousnes.
But beyond these, the document stands the dim prospect of not being taken seriously by the politicians in the BN, including MIC, because no favourable conditions exists for the advancement of the Indian community.
Apart from the lack of political will on the part of Umno leaders, the biggest stumbling block to the successful implementation of the programme is the MIC.
Rajendran might realise this, but then what can he do. The very fact that MIC leadership were excluded by Najib from participating in the genesis of the programme and its implementation would tell tales as to why the former is not happy with the programme.
Rajendran himself is in a quandary. He cannot take his orders from the MIC but at the same time he has to work with them on a number of issues for the success of the programme. He cannot alienate the MIC for they have the capacity to sabotage the programme.
I would like to advice Rajendran not to “open his mouth” prematurely to sing praises of the MIB, just wait and see.