— S. Barathidasan
The Malaysian Insider
Mar 26, 2012
MARCH 26 — The Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS) has done surveys, studies, gained information and feedback from the rakyat showing that it is not true that the rakyat’s support for Barisan Nasional (BN) is peaking based on the party’s record of fulfilling its promises, as claimed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
MIPAS feels that it is not true that “big winds” are blowing towards BN.
The rakyat still does not have confident and full trust in the BN government as many issues have still not been fulfilled.
An example is the Lynas issue. The Parlimentary Select Committee (PSC) should investigate and study the plant’s safety standards. It should be fair and hear the concerns of the people in Kuantan. But it has failed!
Another example is the anger and frustration of the Chinese community over education. A rally was organised by the United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) over the problems faced by Chinese educationists over four decades and regarding the transfer of non-Chinese-speaking teachers to Chinese schools. The BN government has failed to meet Dong Zong’s demands.
MIPAS also believes the BN has failed the Indian community. Najib’s Nambika (trust) has not fulfilled their needs as many of them are still without MyCards, birth certificates. Statistics show Indians only comprise 3.2 per cent of employees in the government sector. It should be increased to seven per cent.
Recently the PM announced that the government would give full scholarships to the top 100 students from the Indian community who graduate with first-class honours from public universities. How many Indian students are there in public universities? And only the top 100 get full scholarships? It’s just an eyewash!
Our country has been independent for 54years now but we still have race or ethnic division/segregation. Every vote is equal but when it comes to policy and implementation it is not equal. For example, the BN government asks Indians to vote BN but whenever there is an issue over appropriation of estate land (e.g. Bukit Jalil Estate) the government says it cannot do anything because it is private land.
Malaysia so keen to support and help the Palestine struggle but when it comes to the ethnic cleansing of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, the BN government abstained from voting against Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council in a resolution mooted by the US. The BN government is against any violation of human rights in Palestine, South Africa, Somalia, South Thailand and many Islamic countries. But why when it comes to Sri Lanka the BN government keeps quiet?
MIPAS believes BN can expect an easy victory only in Johor, Malacca and Pahang in the 13th general election.
* S. Barathidasan is secretary-general of the Malaysian Indians Progressive Association (MIPAS).