GE13: Uthayakumar – Get rid of Indian leaders

Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar’s theory is very simple: The Federal government and the state governments – both BN and Pakatan Rakyat – have devised a scheme where they appoint Indian mandores (foremen) to solve the issues facing Indians, and when the mandores fail, the Indians will blame the mandores and the community will end up fighting among themselves.

 

“Get rid of the mandores and the problems of the poor Indians in this country would be solved. We do not need Indian leaders in this country to solve the Indians’ problems,” said Uthayakumar matter-of-factly.

 

“It is in the hands of the Chinese and Malay leaders to end racism in this country. I would prefer a Chinese or Malay leader to address the Indians’ issues,” he said.

 

Historically, under the British rule of Malaya, the mandores were leaders of labour gangs in the rubber estates who were appointed to ensure that the Indian workers in the estates maintained work discipline.

 

Uthayakumar has not changed much in appearance or views since his arrest under the now-defunct Internal Security Act (ISA) in December 2007 and release in 2009. He is still a firebrand and does not mince his words, one reason he is not wanted by any political faction, he said.