Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email If the readers can recall back to the time near general elections, few of the BN component parties – MIC, MCA, Gerakan, and PPP were clamoring for release of HINDRAF 5 ISA detainees – since this was a sore point among the Indian community. MIC in particular had a horrendous time during the elections. Now, nowhere did we hear the “big brother” of BN saying that the detainees should be released.
So, imagine my surprise when today’s Star reported:
Barisan Nasional youth leaders plan to meet Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar over the call for the release of the five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force.
People’s Progressive Party Youth chief T. Murugiah said the Youth leaders from Umno, Gerakan, MIC and MCA had already agreed in principle to join the group which he would lead.
Can’t believe it la!
At least Samy Vellu is being direct in saying that by releasing the 5 fella, BN will win back some voters (and in the course save MIC’s hind). Let’s read some of Samy Vellu’s quotes on the second round of call by MIC to release the detainees:
It’s about time that they are released as they pose no danger to the security of the country.
“The government should not hold them any longer as it will prolong the Indian community’s ill-feelings towards the government,”
They only voiced out the problems and the frustrations of the Indian community.
“Similarly, the MIC has also been doing the same for the past few decades … so why detain them any longer?”
Err…that means MIC fellas also should have been in ISA for decades? Please la, don’t insult HINDRAF by comparing with MIC. Wait till rebranding finishes and people can see some improvement before attempting to do so.
Samy Vellu said many Barisan Nasional “die-hards” among the Indian community had voted for the opposition in the last general election as they felt that the five Hindraf leaders had been detained unjustly.
“It is not because they loved the opposition or they wanted a change but rather they vented their anger on the (BN) government,” he said.
He said the BN could regain their support if the five Hindraf leaders were released.
Right, the reason to release them is to gain more votes. So that the champion of the community can go around claiming that they were released due to his effort? Hopefully not.
I had asked the prime minister to release them on several occasions and also raised the matter at two BN Supreme Council meetings.
Now, this is very interesting. Note that Samy deftly avoided telling what was PM’s response to his request. Makes us all think. Did Samy Vellu really ask? Was the PM’s reply unmentionable? 🙂
“Wait till rebranding finishes and people can see some improvement before attempting to do so.”
Hmm.. Hindraf doesn’t have a logo, song, new sarees for its women supporters, ahem anything else I missed??
We don’t want MIC to change logo, song and other crap. All that doesn’t make an inch of difference to the community. What we want is change in political policies, abandon race-based politics and merge into one single party, declare all assets acquired illegally by MIC politicians, and of course change of leadership in that single party.
People are frustrated with MIC coz:
1) Can’t stand up to UMNO, forever its running servants.
2) For a party which was created to represent the Indians, it has failed to do so. For instance, where was MIC during the Shah Kirit saga? Or the Malay politician with snake remark? Or the incident at the school? Birth certificate issue? Tamil schools? Temples? Body snatching?
3) Not only did MIC fail to represent the community, it plundered the community through MAIKA shares, land deals i.e. the recent school land that Samy conveniently signed over.
“Now, this is very interesting. Note that Samy deftly avoided telling what was PM’s response to his request.”
We keep hearing this same crap over and over. “I have let the PM know about it”, “The PM said he will look into this matter” are the other similar type of comments by Samy.
I mean, let me ask this, ever since the election, I am hearing Samy say this over and over. Assuming Samy is telling the truth (oh well this could be equivalent to assuming there is a gold pot under the rainbow), and Samy has personally told PM about this over and over, what respect is there to Samy if his comments are not being replied back by the PM, never mind actions ?? Wouldn’t Samy sometimes feel he is talking to a wall?
Seriously Samy I wish you would grow some balls. And Killer, if you want to know what I would do if I was Samy, I would hold a live press conference with PM on my side, and demand H5 be released while looking at his face, and if the request is not met, MIC will leave the coalition (not necessarily join PR).
Thats the ultimatum Samy should give UMNO and the PM. No more sobbing secretly to PM (if that was true in the first place) and none of these rebranding bullshit.
Insult Hindraf by comparing it to MIC?
Is not this too much my dear brother? 62 years legacy of helping thousands of indians and u say this ?
We cant compare Hindraf and MIC. Hindraf and MIC are both in different paradigm.
Hindraf is a pressure group , MIC is a political party within the ruling party.
Sactyr
I think since you guys have dismissed MIC and Samy and asked Indians to vote for PR, it is only approriate to see what this has brought us.
Stop talking about MIC as Indians have rejected them in GE (according to you and the rest of PR cheerleaders here). So why keep talking about past. Let’s talk about what PR has done in the last 6 mths.
Look at the recent hooha over the arrest of Teresa Kok and the reporter. Did you see how DAP, PKR and PAS responded ? But did they respond the same way to the HINDRAF 5 ? Only minor leaders of PR attended the gatherings occasionally. But when non-Indians are arrested, the reaction is a like a Tsunami.
People like Sactyr, VJ, Killi and the rest of the PR apologists should wake up and declare openly their anger at PR. If you keep silent on this matter, it only shows you guys are Ettapan to the community.
Where was Deputy Chief office Boy when the demos and prayers for HINDRAF 5 were organised ? He did not turn up for a single event saying he was busy. But now when Teresa is arrested, he is leading special prayers to ask for divine help.
Shame on you PR supporters.
BTW don’t question Samy’s stand on HINDRAF, he is neither a cabinet minister or MP. Ask your own MPs and party leaders the same question first.
If I am Samy, I will let the HINDRAF 5 continue to enjoy the comforts of KEMTAH. Because if they come out, there will be further turmoil in HINDRAF with more in-fighting and fist fightings.
killer , stop pretend to be an indian lifeguard and admit you’re an umno apologist . Nothing worthful than that …… so we dont bother to take your challenges to task .
Killi
Instead of attacking me, why don’t you for a change argue and debate with me.
You know, when you guys attack me it is the surest sign of admitting I am right…
You can that I do criticise and disagree with BN (I am not even a member FYI) but for you guys never admit PR’s faults and mistakes or how they have betrayed Indians…
Any you can hide a full-sized “poosanikai” in the rice but Indians won’t be fooled twice. They will not support PR in the next by election or GE.
my dear , similarly you could debate with hindraf leaders instead of blantly attack them while leg massaging the racist politician whom were obviuosly discriminating…
Yes , your racist party has fooled people thus far …. and it going to end soon …..
seems like mr.killer is afraid of being bombarded …… anyway this is way more proper than the way and words to chose to attack H5 ….
what you’re doing to others is what will be done to you ….
Killer we can argue with you, but till today you have yet to back up any of your allegations.. or you just change the topic.. so tell me how to argue??
I don’t like to argue with someone who can’t provide proof but mere strings of spins.. its like talking to a wall you know.
Im still waiting for your answer bro, for my earlier comment ( http://poobalan.com/blog/indian/2008/09/22/release-hindraf-5-says-bn-youth-and-mic/#comment-8420 )
Dear friends,
Let killer critic as well as he can. His expectation his very high and he always thinks that he is the best . Do not bother him .
He and SV in the same group. They only can asked question but when you asked question they will be dispeared
Few month ago I did asked him one question and my question is as a goods citizen what have been you done for your indian community or pls. provide us with the suggestion for improvement if you think that what HINDRAF done is wrong but till now no any feedback from him.
He is real corward as what malay pepatah said ” lempar batu sembunyikan tangan ”
Let him go in his own way and our way is keep walking…till we get what we want. Don’t turn back ..
sorry Novin, had problem with my admin-side commenting system. i gave up on fixing it, and now comment from the article page it self. Time-consuming, and hopefully I won’t miss any comments.
Back to your comments, I agree they are two different entities, like apple and oranges. It’s unfair to compare both in terms of history. But let’s look at the context of Samy’s statement:
” They only voiced out the problems and the frustrations of the Indian community.
“Similarly, the MIC has also been doing the same for the past few decades … so why detain them any longer?”
He is essentially comparing what MIC leaders (not counting the grassroot workers) have done with what the ISA detainees have done – “voicing out” problems. One group is in ISA, another still out of prison. Clearly shows that the level of “voicing out” is not the same.
In terms of achievement of objectives: let’s see what have MIC achieved in its 62 years of history. Not piecemeal results, but sustained success, realised policies, and so on. Let’s judge MIC based on its own words, objectives, vision, and targets. We leave that to another post.
HINDRAF, being a fledgling entity, definitely will have more positives than negatives compared to MIC. I think 10 years down the lane, HINDRAF will turn into another MIC – led by people without sense of responsibility and integrity, loathed by the general public, target of crude jokes, and embarrassment to the community. At that time, maybe we can compare them both. 🙂
So there is no right for anyone to say its insulting for HINDRAF to be compared with MIC.
62 years history of helping people to be compared by 10 months of street demonstrations? Now i feel, tun sambathan or presidents before that will be insulted.
I don’t think there is any difference in HINDRAF’s “voicing out” Indians’ problems compared to those misguided Malay NGOs defending “Malay special rights” or “UITM quota”…
While the ethnic groups will be happy and consider them as “heroes”, on the bigger scale the loser is nation itself and the inter-ethnic relations. These goondas or the Malay NGOs don’t see the impact of their actions of the other ethnic groups…On the same token, the negative implication of HINDRAF action is not being realised by their supporters.
Secondly, I don’t think other than raising the level of voice and a few rowdy demos, HINDRAF succeded in anything at all. Hitler too used nationalism and anti-semitism to rouse the German people but I would hardly call his action as “voicing out problems” or bringing any benefits.
I had always said I don’t think race based political parties are not good but unfortunately Malaysians’ mindset are still race-based, despite what their mouth says. PR can claim to be multi-racial but only a fool would be believe that they are trully embrace mult-racialism.
It is still OK to have ethnic based NGOs and parties as long as their efforts is to unite the people and help the community. But when these efforts are used to instigate against others and stir community’s anger (like HINDRAF) then we have problems. I know this will sound painful but I consider HINDRAF to be racists, unlike a more tolerant MIC. It is easy to dismiss MIC as UMNO’s lapdog but in a multi-racial society, a minority community cannot be assertive and aggressive, more so when we are demanding affirmitive actions and aids.
I think most Indians have come to senses that HINDRAF’s actions have not brought the desired actions and MIC is the only party that truly represent and help Indians. But for MIC to build on, they need to re-invent not just re-brand. They need new leaders and new strategies…My advise to them is to forget about HINDRAF, the movement will die a natural death. And also forget about the HINDRAF 5. They can ask for the release of the 4 leaders but Uthaya should be allowed to enjoy his stay in Kamunting. After al he himself had declared (in Nanban) that he would rather stay in KEMTA than be released thru the efforts of Samy.