Another blueprint for disaster?

Yet another blueprint for the Indian Malaysian community is to be announced on Sunday April 23, 2017. This blueprint is the prime minister’s initiative to give hope to the Indian Malaysian community in return for their vote. Unfortunately, the bureaucrats do not seem to be involved in the design and implementation of this plan. Private individuals, NGOs and some businesspersons have provided input and rolled out the blueprint.

Indian Malaysians become equal citizens just before elections, only to be forgotten and neglected after getting their votes.

However, like in past Indian Malaysian community economic plans, this national blueprint, too, is implemented on the periphery without the involvement of key government agencies. It is completely dependent on the current prime minister for its successful implementation. On one end, Umno/BN allegedly systematically marginalises and alienates Indian Malaysians and alienates them to the fringes. But before elections, handouts and blueprint are dished out.

The prime minister made the Indian Malaysian blueprint announcements at MIC meetings and during his recent visit in India. The last Indian Malaysian master plan was announced during the election year in 1974 and now, another blueprint is in the offing in yet another election year, 2017 where the Indian Malaysian votes are at the tipping point to salvage the prime minister himself.

Therefore, this socio-economic plan for the Indians in Malaysia is to serve a political purpose and is not about uplifting and development of the community.

During his recent visit to India, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak took time off to visit Tamil firm super star Rajinikanth, who directed the film ‘Kabali’. This movie was big hit in Malaysia. The crux and plot of this movie is about the failure of Indian Malaysians. How the Malaysian government ‘marginalised’ the Indian Malaysians and why and how they ended up as gang leaders and who have turned on their own and terrorised the Indian Malaysian community.

It is surprising to note that the prime minister had requested the Tamil superstar to produce ‘Kabali’ 2 and 3, and his accompanying MIC entourage did not raise any objections.

They are downtrodden citizens without any rights. They use to dominate sports in the 60s, 70s and even 80s but their contributions later fizzled out right under the nose of the Umno/BN government.

Indian Malaysians form about 7 percent of the population but 72 percent of gangsters come from the community. They, along with other Malaysians, provided outstanding services in the education and health services, but their numbers are dwindling and they are becoming few and far between as the days go by.

Traditionally an agrarian society

Indians were traditionally an agrarian society. But they are landless and the government agencies seemingly do not give two hoots for them. Indian Malaysians are a weak minority in a society where the majority has all the rights and privileges and makes them vulnerable and easy targets for political threats from the ruling party.

The special task force set up in 2011 to address stateless Indians had achieved little. To cover up these alleged failures, the Indian Malaysian blueprint is being introduced. Introducing masterplans and blueprints by political parties without cooperation from the civil services and implementers will only continue to keep the community at the bottom of society.

Alleged discriminatory policies, corruption and nepotism in high places and across the civil services will not help the marginalised minority.

Prime Minister Najib is battling for his political survival. MIC and BN Indian Malaysian parties are losing support. The Indian Malaysian blueprint is a masterplan for Umno/BN’s survival at the expense of the Indian Malaysian community. Indian Malaysians need justice, fair play and equal opportunity, not another blueprint and double standards.

Umno/BN has institutionalised racial and religious discrimination for the past 60 years yet now just before 14th general election, the Umno president and prime minister seem to show care and concern by introducing an economic blueprint.

No other country treats its minorities the way this Umno/BN government does. Even Zakir Naik, who is wanted by the Indian government, gets VIP treatment for apparently demonising Malaysian minorities. Minorities will never get justice and fairness under Umno/BN rule any time in future. It’s time to change the government to save Malaysia from Umno/BN.

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S RAMAKRISHNAN is a former senator.- Mkini