I refer to the Malaysiakini article MIC…let it be.

Let me give my views on why race-based parties are becoming irrelevant in multi-racial Malaysia. My comments apply equally to other race-based parties such as the MCA, Gerakan and PPP. Although Gerakan and PPP are purportedly multi-racial, they have effectively become parties dedicated to one race as multi-racial parties are not encouraged to flourish within Barisan Nasional.

The concept of each race fighting for their rights seems plausible on the surface but it does not work if there is a dominant race which - by virtue of its political hegemony - is able to grab the lion’s share of resources, positions and privileges for itself. The dominant race soon declares itself ‘superior’ and entitled to special rights. Meanwhile, the weakest race fails to make headway to uplift its community because it is, after all, in the weakest position to demand its fair share.

In view of this, Murugesan should have a fair inking why MIC has been so ineffective in uplifting the economic status of the Indians all this while until Indians have been referred to as an ‘underclass’. MIC and to a lesser extent, MCA, will continue to be ineffective as long as racial politics is the order of the day under Umno hegemony.

We must also look at the bigger picture and see what raced-based parties have done to the nation. The raison d’etre of race-based parties is the championing of its own race to get votes. Hence Umno champions Ketuanan Melayu and Malay special rights to gather the Malays to their fold. MCA and MIC try to convince Chinese and Indians that they are needed to protect their rights, culture, religion and economic opportunities in the face of aggressive Malay demands.

How can each race fighting for economic and other privileges lead to national unity? As a consequence, fear, mistrust and envy are created among the races and the country fails to achieve its full potential. It is sad that 50 years after independence, our races are just as polarised as ever.

MIC and MCA have long exhorted their respective communities to vote for them on the basis that more support mean more representation in the government. But what is the point of more representation when they have no power to change things? After the 2004 elections, MCA and MIC had one of the best representations in parliament and the government compared to previous terms but this has not changed the status quo.

This is because mechanisms are put in place to bypass the power of non-Malay ministers and deputy ministers. Even Samy Vellu as the minister in charge of the Public Services Department for umpteen years failed to ensure an equitable share of employment, scholarships and contracts for the Indian community. Is there any clearer example than this?

The danger of race-based parties which claim to represent the minority communities is that they give an impression that they can make a difference when they can’t. Their purpose is mainly to bring in the votes to keep the ruling party in power. Their leaders are like political eunuchs who are rewarded for keeping their communities in line. Hence, they serve to perpetrate the inequality rather than overcome it.

Indeed, the way forward is not race-based parties but multi-racial parties which fight for social issues irrespective of race. Issues like poverty, unemployment, education opportunities and inflation affect all races. We must get rid of the notion that only Indian leaders can fight for Indians and Chinese leaders for Chinese. By promoting multi-racial parties which tackle issues on the basis of need and meritocracy, not race, all communities get help across racial boundaries. The community which is the most needy automatically gets the most help.

If Umno insists on continuing its clarion call of Malay hegemony, the other races should not play along. Without support from other races, Umno may not be in power. The fact is that the non- Malay electorate do matter because the Malays themselves are not united. They have become too diverse and matured to be served by one party espousing one concept. The irony and the tragedy is that although the minority races are king-makers, they have consistently voted in a system which is blatantly unfair to themselves.

The question is not whether we should let MIC be but whether we should continue to support race-based parties which keep us in our racial prisons. True multi-racial politics will take some time to develop when the country has only known race-based politics for half-a-century.

However, the sooner that we, the general public shift our support to parties which espouse multi-racial politics, the sooner we get there. Continuing to support dinosaur parties only play into the hands of a ruling elite who revel in racial politics to maintain their grip on power.