LETTER | The Johor Indian Business Association (Jiba) calls on the Pakatan Harapan presidential council to invite the Malaysian Advancement Party (Map) to be part of its grand coalition. 

Harapan has everything to gain in accepting Map which was founded and led by a former minister in the Harapan government,  P Waytha Moorthy. 

His long years of service and sacrifice for Indians and other communities will be instrumental in supporting the Harapan reform agenda especially in the upliftment of the Indian community.

It's also time to invite an Indian leader to sit on par with the other community leaders at the Harapan presidential council table to address and find solutions to the numerous specific issues and problems faced by the Indian community. The Indian leader needs to be invited to participate.

The community today is numerically small and economically weak and has been suffering due to government policies that prioritise Malay interests.

The country needs to systematically remove the discriminatory racial policies and rebuild a Malaysian society.

Repressive and discriminatory policies over the years against non-Malays have prompted thousands of Malaysians to abandon the country to seek a better life elsewhere. 

This has led to the depletion of talent and resources (human and social capital) which the country is paying a heavy price for on its development prospects.

We are aware that a great many challenges remain along the path of equitable treatment for all citizens regardless of race, religion gender or colour.

The grand coalition plan by Harapan perhaps may be the hope to wholly honour the towering vision of a multi-racial Malaysian society.

The writer is the president of the Johor Indian Business Association (Jiba).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.