The race is on for the Indian vote
(The Malaysian Times) – Analysts and pundits are unanimous: the Indian community in the country is said to be the deciding factor in the coming 13th General Election (GE13).
The race for that vital Indian vote has begun.
The Barisan Nasional’s (BN) recent mammoth rallies such as the ‘Unity Ponggal’ and ‘Perhimpunan BN Pilihan Rakyat’ which witnessed huge turnouts from the Indian community shows that the party has a head start in wooing the Indians votes again.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently announced that Indian students are allowed to take a maximum of 12 subjects in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) which includes Tamil language and Tamil literature. Previously students were only allowed 10 subjects.
Such orogrames and policies, which normally takes years to be confirmed, was announced in a blink of an eye by Najib.
Najib also announced that all Tamil schools will be government-aided schools in phases if BN is given the mandate to rule the country.
During 2008 election, the country saw a tremendous change in its election history when the BN lost its two-third majority as huge numbers of Indian voters turn their backs on them by favouring the opposition.
The Hindu Rights Action Force’s (Hindraf) demonstration which took place on 25th November 2007 which witnessed over 30,000 supporters march down the streets of Kuala Lumpur is said o be the trigger point of the 2008 ‘political tsunami’.
Hindraf has now changed their approach by voicing out their rights to the leaders of the country bin their much touted Blueprint, Hindraf claims to have solved the unsolved marginalisation of the Indian poor.
The activist organisation submitted their ‘Blueprint’ to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) but it received only a cold reaction.
Hindraf’s says its ‘Blueprint’ contains plans for an effective government involvement in six major issues affecting Malaysian Indians and with specific approaches to achieve these objectives:
The major issues highlighted
– Estate workers who have been displaced around the country, numbering about 800,000;
– Stateless Indian Malaysians, numbering about 350,000;
– The denial of adequate and equal educational opportunities;
– Unequal employment and business opportunities;
– The impunity of the police; and
– The standards of human rights practices.
Unsatisfied with PR, Hindraf announced that they are ready to meet Najib and they received his invitation to meet on 22 March to discuss further demands.
On March 25, Hindraf met Prime Minsiter Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak met representatives at his office in Putrajaya for a discussion on their Blueprint. The party is now looking forward for a second meeting with the BN leader.
As Najib hopes to get the Indian community’s attention by this move, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) joined the race by announcing their 14 point plan for the Indian community.
Noticing that there was no mention of the Indian community in PR’s manifesto, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang announced the party’s plans for the Indian community titled ‘A vision and strategy for Indian empowerment’.
The party claimed that the plan is to be key factors aimed at uplifting the socio-economic status of the Indian community.
