Seeing the agitated MIC president on TV3 the other day gave me the impression that his EQ (emotional quotient) is really low. For a leader in full authority of the party, and having already been assured of the president's post, there was never a need for him to show his anger and emotion in public. The words he used were unbecoming of a leader. His use of the national language - despite being in the cabinet for so many years - was appalling.
Being the sole cabinet member from the party, he displays the same temperament while dealing with matters of his ministry. He simply can't take criticisms cooly. Why are the senior coalition partners tolerating such a leadership in their midst? Can't the Umno leadership, as the anchor of the coalition, give a proper guidance on the proper type of leadership that will strengthen the component parties - and ultimately benefit the coalition?
There is a general feeling that Umno prefers a disintegrated MIC as the factions will be at each other's throats and will not be able to put up a serious representation for the Indians in this country. They know fully well that the Indians will vote the Barisan back into power as the opposition does not have an Indian-based party and it is easy to influence the Indian electorate with promises. Moreover, there isn't a single constituency with an Indian majority.
When MG Pandithan left the MIC, his new party was, and is, virtually on its knees asking to be partners of BN along with the MIC. Although MIC objects to IPF's full coalition status, Umno gleefully accepts the loyal support of Pandithan's party - and MIC does not object to that. This is how the Indian-based parties have played into the hands of the main party in power in a divide- and-rule policy. Both try to be a better 'partner' - one in its official status, the other from an unofficial status.
In the meantime, the leader representing the Indian Malaysian community in the cabinet is portraying the behaviour of a 15th century 'jameendhar' (leader). The other leaders of the coalition feel that it is the internal affairs of the MIC 'jameen' (territory) are the sole prerogative of the 'jameendhar'. Many educated Indians, including the professionals, have been keeping away from MIC or from other political parties due to this character of Indian Malaysian politics.
The number of Indian Malaysian civil servants and the number of educational administrators, educators, and professionals in the public sector has seen a steep decline during the current MIC administration. The number of Indian Malaysian youths getting involved in criminal activities has been on the rise as they have been left forgotten without relevant vocational training and a decent means of livelihood due to the same ineffective leadership.
The same leadership has been going round the country with attractive election manifestos and promises for the community if the coalition is elected back into power. After the election, the decorative election promises are kept back in the drawer, to be taken out during the next election.
This has been a show that we have all seen and it is really not a surprise that Umno will want a tried and tested 'jameendhar' to take care of the community by making some noise within his 'jameen' and leave them (the real leaders) in peace until the next election. To survive, the 'jameendhar' is allowed to do whatever he needs to do within his 'jameen'.
This is the unique Malaysian politics that is supposed to bring about national unity and integration. Surely the national leaders are intelligent enough to understand the scenario. But maybe politics is all about using all avenues to be in control, even with the principle of divide -and-rule. Many Indian Malaysians seem to enjoy the 'jameendhar's' rule.and maybe my view is one of a minority of the minority!
