The Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) welcomes MIC President S Samy Vellu’s announcement to MIC members that he will not seek re-election as MIC president come March 2009 if members felt that there should be a leadership change.
Miba calls on the MIC members to rise to the occasion. It is not Miba’s intention to interfere in the affairs of the MIC. However, MIC and Samy have claimed that they not only represent their members but also the Indian community.
Thus, Miba is forced to be vocal on some areas of concern that need to be addressed in order for the community to move forward amidst new challenges.
A new leadership for the MIC will boost the party’s overall image with new plans, vision and mission at a point in the MIC’s history when the relevance of this 60-year-old party is at stake.
MIC needs to bring about a revolutionary shift in its entire political paradigm in view of new calls to end communal politics.
The doors must be opened for more transparency, accountability and democratic practises compared to the present feudal-type of system now.
The MIC has been under relentless attack from the Indian community especially after the advent of Hindraf, a Hindu organisation that spearheaded a bold movement to combat indiscriminate temple demolitions and to demand equal rights for all races.
Their leaders are now under detention without trial under the infamous ISA.
The contributions of the Indian community towards the success of this country cannot be denied and yet there has only been a lukewarm attempt to grant it a fair slice of the economic pie gained over the past 38 years.
The Indians outrightly blamed Samy Vellu for this state of affairs and translated their anger and frustrations at the general elections on March 8 when they openly supported all opposition candidates regardless of race and brought an end to the ‘Titanic’ of Sungai Siput (Samy Vellu).
Samy Vellu has overstayed his welcome in the party and though his contributions over the past 29 years cannot be denied, the expectations of the larger non-MIC members are greater.
The writer is Miba president.
