I read with awe Mr Martin Jalleh's letter - its contents also depict the truth about the MIC leadership, which urges Indians to increase their support for Umno-led Barisan Nasional in the next election.
This kind of ingratiating ampuism (blind support) for Umno's already estranged leadership is definitely an indication that MIC has deviated from its original spirit of struggle - to safeguard their interest, progress and development of Indian Malaysians.
A careful perusal of the resolutions passed at MIC's recent annual meeting reflects the party regression into becoming a tool of Umno. Both the resolutions made at the women and the youth assembly reveals that MIC has selectively avoided sensitive but relevant issues; choosing instead to ingratiate Umno leadership by blindly supporting its brand of politics.
The quality of the resolution lacks substance and quality, does not address the serious problems of the Indian community, and selectively avoids issues of democracy, justice, corruption and human rights.
Far from demanding with audacity solutions from the BN leadership, MIC has gone into deifying Umno leadership. The women and youth resolutions began by praising the present Umno and MIC leadership. on one hand we see resolutions praising Dr Mahathir for bringing development to Malaysia, while another resolution accepts the fact that Tamil school lacks basic facilities!
Such contradictions proves the scanty quality of MIC. The party would have earned better respect if its resolutions had contained the following:
Call for action by the government to clean the nation of all forms of corruption.
Pressure the government to eliminate drug abuse among the Malaysians, particularly the Indian community.
Demand for a royal commission of inquiry into the deaths of Indians in police custody
Control abuse of alcohol among the Indians as taught in the 'Thirukkural'
Encourage Indians to leave estates and secure better jobs
Increase the intake of Indian students into universities proportionate with the population
Make mother tongue education compulsory in all schools so that Holy books can be studied in the original language.
Protect human rights and democracy from being abused by unscrupulous political leaders.
Protect the judiciary from executive interference
Ensure free and fair elections
Ensure the political independence of Tamil newspapers
These are some of the issues that MIC should have brought to the attention of the government instead of dancing to the tune of their leaders who seem to more interested in preserving their hold on power.
