Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Want to know why these “critics” can’t help the community? How about story of MIC sabotaging or threatening those who want to help the community?
Opposition party? OK, forget about them first. List out what MIC have done to:
1. change status of schools to fully aided. How many success cases over the years? What’s the ratio/percentage?
2. increase the number of Tamil schools.
3. increase the intake.
4. ensure their members’ children are in Tamil school.
5. improve/modernise the facilities and environment.
6. improve the status and salary of the tamil school teacher.
If a senior coalition partner of the ruling government can’t do it, what is the reason for its existence or relevance? In position to negotiate and utilise the resources, MIC failed to do what is expected of it. Instead, it dares to ask what others have done. If others can or willing do it, can MIC step aside?
Commmon thing in politics is to condemn once out of favor or if retired or if in the opposite camp. Just like Saravanan can ask Subra, others can ask him or other current leaders as well.
Saravanan tries it all – criticize, threaten, apologise, cajole, and plead. Aim – get votes.
He even blames BN!
Zip it, critics of MIC told
http://malaysiakini.com/news/77799
K Kabilan | Feb 5, 08 10:37am
Critics of MIC and its president S Samy Vellu should stop their incessant attacks and start showing their worth by doing their duty for the community. “There is no point in them continuing to use MIC as a punching bag for the community’s failure,” MIC information chief M Saravanan told Malaysiakini when met recently. “What have these critics done to elevate the status of the community?”
While conceding that the party has had its failures in helping out the community, Saravanan said its track-record has been “much better than that of critics”. “The critics are either (from) the opposition (ranks) or people within the MIC who have an axe to grind against the leadership.
“As far as the opposition parties are concerned, can they openly list what that they have done for the community? They talk so much about how MIC had failed to upgrade Tamil schools …well, how many Tamil schools have the opposition upgraded?”
Saravanan, who is also the Federal Territories MIC chief and a former Senator, said the other group of critics comprises those who are currently out of favour with the party leadership. “Mainly, they are Subramaniam’s supporters and they just want to criticise Samy for the sake of criticising,” he claimed. S Subramaniam (photo) was deputy MIC president until he was defeated by G Palanivel in the 2006 party elections. Samy Vellu and Subramaniam have a long-standing animosity, resulting in different camps being created in the party – Palanivel was, for instance, backed by Samy Vellu. “Subra’s supporters are saying that the root cause of the Indian problem is Samy Vellu. How shallow can they be? “Are they saying that by removing Samy Vellu, everything will be fine with the community? What have they done when they had power in the party to help the community?”
‘There are failures’
Saravanan, widely acknowledged as a rising star in the party, acknowledged the issues affecting the community and said the MIC had “failed in some cases”.
“We are working within a system. We have to follow the established rules of the game. We just can’t jump up and start asking for everything. “And yet we have asked a lot from the government. I agree we have not been given everything that we have asked for but we have somewhat received what we wanted.”
He said that even the government has acknowledged that the Indian Malaysian community has some legitimate grievances and is now looking into these. “The community must understand one thing. They are represented in the government by MIC, not the opposition. Only MIC is in a position to get them concessions from the government to elevate their status,” said Saravanan.
“The critics can only talk. They won’t be able to do anything. They can’t get a single thing done. Not the opposition. Not Subra and his supporters.” He said that the community members should not be taken in by the rhetoric of detractors. “They are shouting for political gains only. They are in no position to help – don’t let these critics kill off MIC. “It will make things much difficult for the community if we (MIC) don’t get support in the coming elections. We all need the MIC (to uphold the interests) of the community. We know our shortfalls and we are in the midst of overcoming these.”
Erosion of popular vote
He further said the party is working with the government to uplift the community’s status, as reflected in the promises by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at a special MIC meeting last Sunday. On claims that the party looks set to lose some support among Indian voters, Saravanan admitted that leaders in some states are faring badly in certain areas. He said the community is venting its anger on MIC, especially over economic issues, and that this has been spurred by the impact of activities organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).”Okay, we understand that there is anger after Hindraf leaders were detained under the ISA. But why blame MIC for that? What did we do? We are doing our best to serve the community,” he said.
“We are now trying to explain the real situation to the people and to explain what MIC has done for the community, as well as the limitations under which we work in the Barisan Nasional system. “Our explanations are being well received except in some pockets where the opposition has control. Also our task is made difficult by people within MIC who spread false information.”
Nonetheless, he said, the party is confident of retaining all the seats it will contest in the next general election, increasingly anticipated to be called by next month. “However, we must admit that we will lose some votes due to prevailing sentiments on the ground. but we are not at risk of being whitewashed,” he added. “Members of the community do realise that only MIC can bring development to them. They may be angry or disappointed now but we are sure they will continue to back us.”
