Hindraf-Pakatan courtship souring
The romance between Pakatan and Hindraf appears to be fizzling out as the numerous dates since last November have failed to see a progress in the relationship.
K Pragalath, FMT
On the eve of Valentine’s Day, Hindraf reveals that its courtship with Pakatan Rakyat is on the brink of failure due to lack of progress in the relationship.
Blaming the Pakatan Rakyat leadership, Hindraf secretary P Ramesh said the break-up appeared imminent
“Unfortunately after more than three months of trudging through these meetings there is nothing to show in the form of progress,” he added in a statement.
Six meetings were held involving top guns from both Pakatan and Hindraf such as Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and P Waythamoorthy. There were also an additional 15 informal meetings since last November.
Ramesh also blamed Pakatan’s failure in forming an electoral pact and its delay in endorsing Hindraf’s five-year blueprint to include Indian poor in mainstream development as a factor.
“Hindraf has made it clear to Pakatan from the outset that any support from Hindraf in the coming 13th general election is incumbent on Pakatan endorsing the blueprint.
“Hindraf has been extremely accommodating to facilitate the endorsement and adoption of the blueprint programme by Pakatan,” he said.
“However we are deeply concerned by the inordinate delay on the part of Pakatan in endorsing the blueprint and forming an electoral pact with Hindraf. This will cause serious setbacks to all parties wanting to see a change in the political landscape of Malaysia,” he added.
In November last year, Hindraf national adviser N Ganesan made six demands while unveiling the five-year blueprint at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.
The six demands were:
1) Stop displacing Indian plantation workers and provide reasonable compensation as well as offer skills training to them;
2) Resolve Indian stateless issue;
3) Provide equal education opportunities to all Indian students via meritocracy;
4) Provide equal job and business opportunities to Indians;
5) Stop police brutality and death in custody, and set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC); and
6) Stop institutionalised racism and ratify the United Nations convention against racial discrimination.
Ganesan had also suggested the setting up of a Minority Affairs Ministry after the 13th general election and said that Hindraf should be allowed to operate the ministry.
