Malaysian Indians: Slaving for the Mandors

Nothing ever translates into a workable outcome, neither YB Charles Santiago nor YB Xavier Jayakumar have detailed a single plan or strategy for the Indian community ever since they assumed office in 2008. And now, all of a sudden, YB Charles is seemingly trying to develop Pakatan Harapan’s own long-term plan for the Indian community.

David Anand

Just like everyone else, I was an eager beaver the moment I saw Pakatan Harapan leaders were going to be engaging various groups. I even dropped my name to the organisers through Facebook but the invite never came my way. Perhaps, I am the unlucky one of the thousands who flocked the hall. Or maybe I was not an important political chum like the rest. For whatever reason, it was held within a closed political circuit.

What transpired post-workshop was clearly a disappointment. Nothing ever translates into a workable outcome, neither YB Charles Santiago nor YB Xavier Jayakumar have detailed a single plan or strategy for the Indian community ever since they assumed office in 2008. And now, all of a sudden, YB Charles is seemingly trying to develop Pakatan Harapan’s own long-term plan for the Indian community. One glaringly inept outcome of their workshop was that the data and facts that were presented was nicked entirely from the Malaysian Indian Blueprint.

It is apparent that the grand coalition has had a series of seizures ever since the blueprint was launched. And I for one have been giving the benefit of doubt and listening to YB Charles and Xavier’s blueprint narrative since last year. Yet, not a single outcome has come from them till today, other than their usual politically veiled article masquerading as community narrative.

YB Charles and his comrades have seemingly been coming up with Indian programs since the launch of the Gelang Patah Declaration in 2012 by YB Lim Kit Siang. Even that has not seen the light of day, what could we hope for in this new venture of theirs.

The irony of it is, when the blueprint was in development, YB Charles and Xavier were the same folks throwing caution to the wind that the Government should stop the charade of group discussions and forums as the Indian narrative is public knowledge. Now what gives? Perhaps, they have been awakened from their slumbers by the partnership talk between HINDRAF and Tun M?

Now, Pakatan Harapan aka Tun M seeks the help of HINDRAF to continuously show a murky vision of a better tomorrow for the Indians. That in itself reflects badly on YB Charles & Xavier. Fearful of the arrival of the HINDRAF legion whisking away the remaining Indian fan base, YB Charles & Xavier now suddenly feel the need to champion the Indian agenda.

Popular sentiment would be ignited to fire up the belly of the innocent Indians come GE14, who have been used over and over again as a ping-pong ball. Slaving from one Mandor to another.

As an Indian growing up in Malaya, I have seen many instances where our demands were reduced to tears. The opposition once promised us big dreams and we made sure we tuned in, giving them the due opportunity to lead and make those changes, ensuring their victory in the 2008 & 2013 elections. Only to have the very same lot, so called redeemers of the community stay put and rot in their offices, while doing one thing almost perfectly. Their nonstop whining at the Federal Government.

Just when you think that’s appalling, they clamp hands with Tun M who was once the opposition’s main bargaining chip during their rallies. This grand coalition has come to no shame in adopting whichever stance is most convenient in whatever time they are in, especially when it nears the ballots. As for Tun M, you’ve got to brush past the layers to finally get a real tap of identity. Apologising to the Indians for his years of mistreatment, just like that. The scars are deep and sorry doesn’t cut it.

Overindulgence of anything is toxic, so for the sake of the Indians in this country, I hope Pakatan Harapan weans off their addiction to everything Blueprint and start producing programs of their own and in their backyard. Lest we have parallel competing offers on display, we can never make the leap of faith.