Dr. Mahathir Mohamad speaks on July 27, 2008
1. When we became independent in 1957 nobody gave us much of a chance to make any progress beyond what had been achieved under the British.
2. I myself at that time thought that the only difference independence would make would be Malaysians would take over the administration of the country from the British. Nothing much more than that.
3. The other day I was given a copy of a news sheet called "Opinion" of November 1968, which I remember was edited and produced by Sulaiman Alias, one of the young political activist in UMNO.
4. It was quite a liberal paper and contained articles by such well-known personalities as Dr Lim Chong Eu (Gerakan), Dr R Kumar (Labour Party), Lim Kit Siang (DAP), Syed Hussain Ali (Parti Rakyat), Tengku Zaid (PMIP), Goh Cheng Teik, Ismail Ghani and several others.
5. I was also a contributor writing "In Defense of Feudalism". I was a Member of Parliament then.
6. The article that most interested me was one by Dr Lim Chong Yah, an economist, entitled "The Future of Malaysian Economy".
7. In it he gave a picture of the Malaysian Economy in 1967, 10 years after Merdeka.
8. The population was a mere 10 million and we were reproducing at 3.7% per annum. Our death rate had decreased from 12% to 7% which resulted in a natural increase of 3% p.a., a high rate, he noted.
9. Assuming decreasing death rate and also decreasing birth rate, the 3% population growth would likely continue over the next 10 years bringing the population to 13 million in 1977.
10. Dr Lim thought that national income should increase at 3% p.a. over the 1967 per capital (sic) income of USD940 p.a. But at 3% rate of growth the gap between us and the rich countries would widen.
11. Still the other developing countries would be behind us. However at 3% growth we would not be able to create jobs at 100,000 p.a. The rate of growth of national income should be 5%.
12. Investment growth (domestic) would not be able to do this.
13. If foreign investment makes up 4% of growth then it may be possible to achieve the necessary rate of investment for creating 100,000 jobs per annum.
14. It was a time when the rubber estates and tin mines were still owned by foreigners. Bringing in foreign capital sounded like increasing overdependence on foreign enterprise. We did not quite relish the idea of more foreign involvement in our newly independent country.
15. But without capital inflow unemployment would be 200,000 by 1977. Together with 160,000 unemployed in 1967, the rate would go up to 360,000, a horrendous figure.
16. The 360,000 did not include a large number of under-employed workers.
17. In the second five-year plan the public section was to spend 4,500 million Ringgit of which 1,900 million Ringgit was to come from foreign sources (borrowing).
18. Malaysia would have to depend on foreign capital inflow. Dr Lim remarked that political independence had not freed us from dependence on foreign capital. Still, he said, it was consistent with political independence. He named several developed countries which depended on foreign capital inflows.
19. He then turned to the rubber industry which was undergoing great difficulties because of the increasing usage of synthetics. He concluded that the difficulties of the rubber industry was also the difficulty of the nation in view of the strategic and preeminent role the industry occupied in the Malaysian economy.
20. The United States was making things more difficult through the release of their rubber stockpile. I remember being invited by Mr Bell, the American Ambassador to tea and I raised this matter. I was shocked when the Ambassador said that it was important for the US economy to keep rubber prices low. I told him that rubber prices were more critical to a small country like Malaysia than to a huge diversified economic power like America. But he did not care what happened to Malaysia. Yet at that time we looked up to America as a friend and liberator.
21. Rubber prices went down from 108.00 cents per pound to 68.14 cents. At the time Dr Lim wrote his article it was 50 cent per pound. The kampong people suffered grievously.
22. The other major source of income for Malaysia was tin. Already the production was decreasing.
23. We may be surprised but after tin came iron ore. We produced 7.3 million tons in 1963 but the production was going down. We produce no iron ore for export today.
24. Dr Lim predicted that income from rubber, tin and iron ore would decrease by 1977.
25. But the picture was bright for palm oil. In 1957 we exported 58.5 thousand tons of palm oil. By 1966 we exported 178.0 thousand tons.
26. Imagine how small we were then. Today if I am not mistaken we export more than 12 million tons at RM 3,000 plus per ton = 36,000,000,000 i.e. 36 billion Ringgit per year - well over the total public development estimate of 4,000 million Ringgit for the second five year plan (of course the Ringgit bought more than it does now).
27. Other than these we expected to earn something from timber, canned pineapple and pepper.
28. Dr Lim believed that growth would be from the domestic sector, with public sector contributing much towards it.
29. From Dr Lim's paper, presented at a forum organised by the National Union of Malayan Students at the University of Malaya, it did not seem likely that Malaysia would grow to what it is today. Yet Dr Lim was optimistic. He expected political stability to contribute towards Malaysia's development.
30. I write this in order to remind ourselves as to what we were like before. In 1967 no one thought of a Malaysia like what it is today. We did not think of industrialisation. We saw ourselves as a producer of raw materials.
31. Foreign Direct Investment was an unknown term when Dr Lim Chong Eu invited foreign industrialists in the early 70s to invest in the electronic industry on liberal terms. Prior to that we had insisted that all foreign industries must accept Malaysian Equity Participation (before NEP).
32. Only National or Matsushita came. But later we gave priority to job creation to benefit not those with money to invest but the unemployed workers. That was the best decision the Malaysian Government ever made.
33. Today Malaysia is more prosperous than the other countries which attained independence together with us. There is not a single race, not a single person, whatever may be his or her station in life who can honestly say that he or she has gained nothing from the independent Governments of Malaysia.
34. We are all the beneficiaries of the policies of those early people who lead this country. The systems and policies they initiated were excellent.
If they seem not to work today it is not because they were bad but it is because we do not have their caliber. We have become very selfish and too materialistic. This country has given us much. Is it still the country we love? I wonder!
(*) We also wonder Dr.M, when the country have given so much, how come Indians in the country got so little....???
Cakap boleh lah......
Friday, August 08, 2008
CRONYISM AND THE NEP
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad speaks up on August 6, 2008
1. When the New Economic Policy began to show some results in the early eighties, the Western Press and local opponents of the Government began to talk about cronyism. Whoever succeeded in a developing country like Malaysia, did so because they were the chosen favourites of the Government, particularly the head of the Government.
2. I came in for virulent attacks because some Malays actually did well in business. They were all labelled my cronies whether they were indeed my cronies or not. Anyone who succeeded was immediately defined as my crony.
3. Many close friends, relatives and members of my family who failed in business would not be called cronies.
4. It is not the actual relation or association with the leader that qualifies one to be the crony of the Prime Minister. It is the success of the individual. Failures, no matter how close they may be to the Prime Minister would not be called cronies.
5. This left me in a quandary. As head of the Government I had to ensure the success of the NEP objective of reducing the disparities between the bumiputeras and the non-bumis. This reduction must be achieved at all levels, not excluding the rich and the very rich. It wouldn't do to have parity among the low income and middle income only, while big businesses are all in the hands of the non-Bumiputera millionaires.
6. While most Bumiputeras who were given shares and opportunities to do business abused these opportunities, a few tried seriously and some of them succeeded. Obviously, these would be the people who should get more opportunities. Those who had abused their rights were also given second and third chances but as they continued to mess up their contracts and projects they were dropped out. Giving them more opportunities would simply be a waste. It would not help correct the economic imbalances.
7. As new opportunities were created, those with good track records were given more projects and contracts. When privatisation was introduced these people were among the ones chosen to take over the big privatised entities.
8. Admittedly some of them failed and were dropped. The numbers who succeeded became smaller. As we cannot risk giving to failures, the few successful people seem to be getting all the Government contracts, privatisation projects and other business opportunities.
9. All the while the Government was on the lookout for new Bumiputera individuals who showed good business acumen. They too were given projects, contracts and business opportunities. Again if they were successful they would get more projects and contracts etc. Then they would be categorised as cronies.
10. The number of successful Bumiputera businessmen slowly increased. Angry that the NEP had actually succeeded in throwing up capable bumiputera businessmen and reducing racial imbalances the Western press and local opponents of the NEP began to label all the successful Bumiputera businessmen as cronies of the Prime Minister. It does not matter if the PM had never known these people, but if they succeed then they must be the cronies of the PM.
11. It would seem that the only way to avoid being accused of cronyism is to ensure that all Bumiputeras fail in business. Better still the NEP should be made to fail completely.
12. The continuing disparities between the Bumiputeras and the non-Bumiputeras which these will cause would then produce inter-racial tension and political instability. Then the Western journalists can say that these "natives" really should not be given independence. Look at the mess they are making of their country.
13. It must be very annoying to the know-all Western journalists that they have been proved constantly wrong about Malaysia. They had predicted the collapse of this country due to the Malays seizing the wealth of the Chinese after independence, but this did not happen.
14. When May 13th 1969 occurred they congratulated themselves as what they had predicted seemed to have happened. But the three races in Malaysia worked out their own solution and Malaysia once again stabilised and went on to grow and prosper.
15. Despite dire predictions about the unfairness of the NEP affirmative action and cronyism, Malaysia continued to grow strongly and noticeable improvement was made in reducing the disparities between the races. The target of becoming a developed country by 2020 seemed achievable.
16. When the financial crisis caused by rogue currency traders took place, Malaysia remained calm and peaceful. The Malays did not blame the Chinese as happened in other countries. Apparently the Malays were quite satisfied with their share of the nation's wealth after the NEP. The Chinese did not blame the NEP either.
17. Instead when the Government successfully overcame the crises, the Chinese were very grateful. In the 1999 Elections, the Chinese votes were overwhelming, helping to give the BN party the 2/3 majority, despite Anwar's black eye.
18. When I stepped down wealth distribution through affirmative action in the economic field had contributed towards eradicating the identification of race with economic function but not as much as targeted.
19. But the NEP was more successful in the field of education. When I wrote the Malay Dilemma in 1970, I cited education as one of the obstacles to progress of the Malays. At that time few Malays had university education. There were only a handful of Malay professionals.
20. In my class of 1947 at the Medical College there were only seven Malay students out of a class of 77. Even in the arts faculties the percentage was very small.
21. Under the NEP more schools were built in the rural areas and primary education was free. Secondary education was easily available and a lot of scholarships were given for the universtities in the country and abroad.
22. Residential colleges enabled the students to study under better condition than found in their inadequately lighted village houses. They were given better food in these hostels. Junior science colleges modelled after the English Boarding Schools provide ideal environment for selected students to study and play.
23. The results of all these efforts is very satisfying. Thousands of Malay boys and girls from poor village families gained access to better education and eventually obtained university degrees in various professions and fields of knowledge.
24. Many went on to study for post-graduate degrees and doctorates. They now work as professors in universities, as specialists in various fields of medicine, as scientists, engineers, architects, veterinarians, agriculturists etc. They have not been left behind by the advances in new knowledge such as information technology, telecommunications and space science.
25. They have also gone into management, obtaining MBAs from well known universities such as Harvard and Philadelphia. Armed with these qualifications they have been employed as management executives at all levels. Some actually head multinational companies.
26. In the education field the NEP has been very successful. It has helped to correct the imbalances not only in the professions but also in business. Strangely Malays have become very successful bankers.
27. The educational successes of the NEP have been largely ignored and not even recognised as a part of the poverty eradication and the removal of the identification of race with economic function objectives of the NEP. But in fact they are.
28. So think again whether the NEP simply enrich the cronies of the PM and Government.
29. Think of what would be the situation in Malaysia today without the NEP.
30. If there is still doubt then do a survey of all the contracts and scholarships given by the private sector and work out how much they have contributed toward eliminating disparities between races, and who would be the poor in this country.
Now, This is Dr.M........... we should have known earlier.
1. When the New Economic Policy began to show some results in the early eighties, the Western Press and local opponents of the Government began to talk about cronyism. Whoever succeeded in a developing country like Malaysia, did so because they were the chosen favourites of the Government, particularly the head of the Government.
2. I came in for virulent attacks because some Malays actually did well in business. They were all labelled my cronies whether they were indeed my cronies or not. Anyone who succeeded was immediately defined as my crony.
3. Many close friends, relatives and members of my family who failed in business would not be called cronies.
4. It is not the actual relation or association with the leader that qualifies one to be the crony of the Prime Minister. It is the success of the individual. Failures, no matter how close they may be to the Prime Minister would not be called cronies.
5. This left me in a quandary. As head of the Government I had to ensure the success of the NEP objective of reducing the disparities between the bumiputeras and the non-bumis. This reduction must be achieved at all levels, not excluding the rich and the very rich. It wouldn't do to have parity among the low income and middle income only, while big businesses are all in the hands of the non-Bumiputera millionaires.
6. While most Bumiputeras who were given shares and opportunities to do business abused these opportunities, a few tried seriously and some of them succeeded. Obviously, these would be the people who should get more opportunities. Those who had abused their rights were also given second and third chances but as they continued to mess up their contracts and projects they were dropped out. Giving them more opportunities would simply be a waste. It would not help correct the economic imbalances.
7. As new opportunities were created, those with good track records were given more projects and contracts. When privatisation was introduced these people were among the ones chosen to take over the big privatised entities.
8. Admittedly some of them failed and were dropped. The numbers who succeeded became smaller. As we cannot risk giving to failures, the few successful people seem to be getting all the Government contracts, privatisation projects and other business opportunities.
9. All the while the Government was on the lookout for new Bumiputera individuals who showed good business acumen. They too were given projects, contracts and business opportunities. Again if they were successful they would get more projects and contracts etc. Then they would be categorised as cronies.
10. The number of successful Bumiputera businessmen slowly increased. Angry that the NEP had actually succeeded in throwing up capable bumiputera businessmen and reducing racial imbalances the Western press and local opponents of the NEP began to label all the successful Bumiputera businessmen as cronies of the Prime Minister. It does not matter if the PM had never known these people, but if they succeed then they must be the cronies of the PM.
11. It would seem that the only way to avoid being accused of cronyism is to ensure that all Bumiputeras fail in business. Better still the NEP should be made to fail completely.
12. The continuing disparities between the Bumiputeras and the non-Bumiputeras which these will cause would then produce inter-racial tension and political instability. Then the Western journalists can say that these "natives" really should not be given independence. Look at the mess they are making of their country.
13. It must be very annoying to the know-all Western journalists that they have been proved constantly wrong about Malaysia. They had predicted the collapse of this country due to the Malays seizing the wealth of the Chinese after independence, but this did not happen.
14. When May 13th 1969 occurred they congratulated themselves as what they had predicted seemed to have happened. But the three races in Malaysia worked out their own solution and Malaysia once again stabilised and went on to grow and prosper.
15. Despite dire predictions about the unfairness of the NEP affirmative action and cronyism, Malaysia continued to grow strongly and noticeable improvement was made in reducing the disparities between the races. The target of becoming a developed country by 2020 seemed achievable.
16. When the financial crisis caused by rogue currency traders took place, Malaysia remained calm and peaceful. The Malays did not blame the Chinese as happened in other countries. Apparently the Malays were quite satisfied with their share of the nation's wealth after the NEP. The Chinese did not blame the NEP either.
17. Instead when the Government successfully overcame the crises, the Chinese were very grateful. In the 1999 Elections, the Chinese votes were overwhelming, helping to give the BN party the 2/3 majority, despite Anwar's black eye.
18. When I stepped down wealth distribution through affirmative action in the economic field had contributed towards eradicating the identification of race with economic function but not as much as targeted.
19. But the NEP was more successful in the field of education. When I wrote the Malay Dilemma in 1970, I cited education as one of the obstacles to progress of the Malays. At that time few Malays had university education. There were only a handful of Malay professionals.
20. In my class of 1947 at the Medical College there were only seven Malay students out of a class of 77. Even in the arts faculties the percentage was very small.
21. Under the NEP more schools were built in the rural areas and primary education was free. Secondary education was easily available and a lot of scholarships were given for the universtities in the country and abroad.
22. Residential colleges enabled the students to study under better condition than found in their inadequately lighted village houses. They were given better food in these hostels. Junior science colleges modelled after the English Boarding Schools provide ideal environment for selected students to study and play.
23. The results of all these efforts is very satisfying. Thousands of Malay boys and girls from poor village families gained access to better education and eventually obtained university degrees in various professions and fields of knowledge.
24. Many went on to study for post-graduate degrees and doctorates. They now work as professors in universities, as specialists in various fields of medicine, as scientists, engineers, architects, veterinarians, agriculturists etc. They have not been left behind by the advances in new knowledge such as information technology, telecommunications and space science.
25. They have also gone into management, obtaining MBAs from well known universities such as Harvard and Philadelphia. Armed with these qualifications they have been employed as management executives at all levels. Some actually head multinational companies.
26. In the education field the NEP has been very successful. It has helped to correct the imbalances not only in the professions but also in business. Strangely Malays have become very successful bankers.
27. The educational successes of the NEP have been largely ignored and not even recognised as a part of the poverty eradication and the removal of the identification of race with economic function objectives of the NEP. But in fact they are.
28. So think again whether the NEP simply enrich the cronies of the PM and Government.
29. Think of what would be the situation in Malaysia today without the NEP.
30. If there is still doubt then do a survey of all the contracts and scholarships given by the private sector and work out how much they have contributed toward eliminating disparities between races, and who would be the poor in this country.
Now, This is Dr.M........... we should have known earlier.
Hindraf 18 Point Demands
Ms.G Kanchana refers to the statement made by K.P.Samy (Makkal Osai 15/07/08 Pg. 2 )
“Who is the true warrior” ? (Poorata Waathi )
Mr. K.P. Samy in order to defend Datuk Subramaniam has succeeded in exposing to the entire nation the secret collusion of some who tried to compromise the 18 point demands of Hindraf.
Which is the truth Mr. K.P.Samy :-
The Hindraf 18 point demands which were carefully drafted without ‘fear or favour’ to portray, reflect and incorporate the true marginalisation and discrimination of the Indians in the past 50 years, which was presented openly to the Prime Minister at Putrajaya on 12/08/07, attended and witnessed by about 5000 people.
OR
The so called memo which was, altered, adjusted and modified thus compromising the true demands and grievances of the Indians that was apparently handed over to the Prime Minister ‘behind closed doors presumably’ at some point of time by Datuk Subramaniam.
Who gave these perpetrators the right to covertly manipulate the one and only Hindraf 18 point demands which since November 25th 2007 Rally, has been proven to be wholeheartedly accepted by Indians. Who is Raidu to act as coordinator when he clearly has no status to do so. Who are the others who called themselves ‘Hindraf ’ who had conspired and schemed in this intrusion of the 18 point demands. Who are the so called established and reputable legal firm that assisted in this invasion. The Hindraf 18 point demands are not to be manipulated, it speaks the truth although unacceptable by some who have been compliant all the while. The Federal Constitution of Malaysia that enshrines the rights of the people of this nation was battered and distorted to emphasise the special powers of a certain group but at the same time infringing and contravening the rights of many others. We will not allow a similar manipulation and violation to the Hindraf 18 Point Demands that we “Makkal Sakthi” are holding close to our hearts and working very hard to achieve.
Why an attempt to change the 18 point demands?
The Kg Medan incident did happen, just like many unanswered deaths in police custody and likewise issues. Why turn a blind eye on these issues? We have a right to know what actually took place. Any unlawful death has to be answerable. An inquiry will reveal the true nature of the incidence, unless of course the truth is unacceptable by some. It took us nearly 30 years to ask the questions on ‘Maika Holdings Funds” and yet no answers. We cannot wait another 50 years to demand an inquiry into Kg Medan issue, it’s now or never. If Datuk Subramaniam is indeed exceptional within the MIC he must show his support to the Indian community first by answering the much frequent and repeated question of what happened to the ‘Maika Holdings Funds’. Otherwise we have no choice but to keep believing MIC is no different from the Government when it comes to accountability and transparency, or even worse.
Asking for compensation instead for the victims, is shameful and degrading. Can any amount of money close the chapter (unanswered) on the Kg Medan incident or bring back the lost lives. Will it make any better the suffering of those injured and traumatised by the terrible incident. This compensation request seems to imply that “the Indians if thrown a few pennies will shut up”. It’s no longer the case, not after November 25th 2007 awakening.
Why the fear in questioning the Malay previliges. The Federal Constitution declares equality amongst it citizens. Didn’t we the Indians shed our blood for the independence of this country? Didn’t we work equally hard and contribute to the prosperity and development of this great nation? Are we lesser off people than others?. Why then are we still being told not to question the Malay previliges?. The fear and inhibitions of the Indians got washed off with ‘chemical laced water’ on November 25th2007. Yet again the Indians are being coerced not to question the Malay previliges. Exactly what the MIC ‘mandores’ have been doing the last 50 years.
On another point, why Mr. K.P.Samy do you wish to portray Datuk Subramaniam as a hero behind the Hindraf struggle for the Indians when such recognition deservingly belongs to those incarcerated for upholding justice and the rights of the Indians and the people “Makkal Sakthi” who are the true heroes alongside the remarkable bravery of many uprising heroines.
If passing a memo ‘behind the scene’ to the PM and receiving promises from the PM “just before elections” indicates warriorship ‘Poorata Waathi’ then you are truly testing the intelligence of the Indians. I quote Uthaya’s words here “You can fool some Indians some of the time but you can’t fool all the Indians all of the time”. The support and efforts presumably by Datuk Subramaniam has to be seen to be believed, he should come forth and declare support for Hindraf and the 18 point demands. Until then there are many who will presume that he, like many others in MIC has his own interest to protect first.
How can we ever believe or trust Datuk Sri Samy Velu to be in dialogues with the government for the release of the Hindraf 5 leaders, when early upon the arrest he declared the PM to have done the right thing. What a contradiction ! Where is the truth here Mr. Samy?
History shows there is only one person in ISA detention who had fought for Human Rights and the Indians vehemently without ‘fear or favour’ for many years now and continues to do so from within his cell. We believe the person who did not sign the so called secret document was P.Uthayakumar. He is a man of principles unwilling to compromise in the name of Indians. ‘Ondre solvar, ondre saivar’ ( his words are his actions) Even today he will not beg or negotiate for his release. “Who is the true warrior (Poorata Waathi)” here?
Hindraf ‘Makkal Sakthi’ will follow this approach and through its chairman P.Waytha Moorthy, the Coordinators and Supporters the struggle will carry on.
Mr. K.P. Samy, you “or those behind you” have done a wonderful deed in bailing and supporting those detained after the rally. For this we truly appreciate your contribution towards the Indian struggle.
What ever said and done there is only one Hindarf “Makkal Sakthi” and one 18 Point Demands… not what took place “ BEHIND THE SCENES”.
Vaalga Hindraf ‘Maakal Sakthi’.
“Who is the true warrior” ? (Poorata Waathi )
Mr. K.P. Samy in order to defend Datuk Subramaniam has succeeded in exposing to the entire nation the secret collusion of some who tried to compromise the 18 point demands of Hindraf.
Which is the truth Mr. K.P.Samy :-
The Hindraf 18 point demands which were carefully drafted without ‘fear or favour’ to portray, reflect and incorporate the true marginalisation and discrimination of the Indians in the past 50 years, which was presented openly to the Prime Minister at Putrajaya on 12/08/07, attended and witnessed by about 5000 people.
OR
The so called memo which was, altered, adjusted and modified thus compromising the true demands and grievances of the Indians that was apparently handed over to the Prime Minister ‘behind closed doors presumably’ at some point of time by Datuk Subramaniam.
Who gave these perpetrators the right to covertly manipulate the one and only Hindraf 18 point demands which since November 25th 2007 Rally, has been proven to be wholeheartedly accepted by Indians. Who is Raidu to act as coordinator when he clearly has no status to do so. Who are the others who called themselves ‘Hindraf ’ who had conspired and schemed in this intrusion of the 18 point demands. Who are the so called established and reputable legal firm that assisted in this invasion. The Hindraf 18 point demands are not to be manipulated, it speaks the truth although unacceptable by some who have been compliant all the while. The Federal Constitution of Malaysia that enshrines the rights of the people of this nation was battered and distorted to emphasise the special powers of a certain group but at the same time infringing and contravening the rights of many others. We will not allow a similar manipulation and violation to the Hindraf 18 Point Demands that we “Makkal Sakthi” are holding close to our hearts and working very hard to achieve.
Why an attempt to change the 18 point demands?
The Kg Medan incident did happen, just like many unanswered deaths in police custody and likewise issues. Why turn a blind eye on these issues? We have a right to know what actually took place. Any unlawful death has to be answerable. An inquiry will reveal the true nature of the incidence, unless of course the truth is unacceptable by some. It took us nearly 30 years to ask the questions on ‘Maika Holdings Funds” and yet no answers. We cannot wait another 50 years to demand an inquiry into Kg Medan issue, it’s now or never. If Datuk Subramaniam is indeed exceptional within the MIC he must show his support to the Indian community first by answering the much frequent and repeated question of what happened to the ‘Maika Holdings Funds’. Otherwise we have no choice but to keep believing MIC is no different from the Government when it comes to accountability and transparency, or even worse.
Asking for compensation instead for the victims, is shameful and degrading. Can any amount of money close the chapter (unanswered) on the Kg Medan incident or bring back the lost lives. Will it make any better the suffering of those injured and traumatised by the terrible incident. This compensation request seems to imply that “the Indians if thrown a few pennies will shut up”. It’s no longer the case, not after November 25th 2007 awakening.
Why the fear in questioning the Malay previliges. The Federal Constitution declares equality amongst it citizens. Didn’t we the Indians shed our blood for the independence of this country? Didn’t we work equally hard and contribute to the prosperity and development of this great nation? Are we lesser off people than others?. Why then are we still being told not to question the Malay previliges?. The fear and inhibitions of the Indians got washed off with ‘chemical laced water’ on November 25th2007. Yet again the Indians are being coerced not to question the Malay previliges. Exactly what the MIC ‘mandores’ have been doing the last 50 years.
On another point, why Mr. K.P.Samy do you wish to portray Datuk Subramaniam as a hero behind the Hindraf struggle for the Indians when such recognition deservingly belongs to those incarcerated for upholding justice and the rights of the Indians and the people “Makkal Sakthi” who are the true heroes alongside the remarkable bravery of many uprising heroines.
If passing a memo ‘behind the scene’ to the PM and receiving promises from the PM “just before elections” indicates warriorship ‘Poorata Waathi’ then you are truly testing the intelligence of the Indians. I quote Uthaya’s words here “You can fool some Indians some of the time but you can’t fool all the Indians all of the time”. The support and efforts presumably by Datuk Subramaniam has to be seen to be believed, he should come forth and declare support for Hindraf and the 18 point demands. Until then there are many who will presume that he, like many others in MIC has his own interest to protect first.
How can we ever believe or trust Datuk Sri Samy Velu to be in dialogues with the government for the release of the Hindraf 5 leaders, when early upon the arrest he declared the PM to have done the right thing. What a contradiction ! Where is the truth here Mr. Samy?
History shows there is only one person in ISA detention who had fought for Human Rights and the Indians vehemently without ‘fear or favour’ for many years now and continues to do so from within his cell. We believe the person who did not sign the so called secret document was P.Uthayakumar. He is a man of principles unwilling to compromise in the name of Indians. ‘Ondre solvar, ondre saivar’ ( his words are his actions) Even today he will not beg or negotiate for his release. “Who is the true warrior (Poorata Waathi)” here?
Hindraf ‘Makkal Sakthi’ will follow this approach and through its chairman P.Waytha Moorthy, the Coordinators and Supporters the struggle will carry on.
Mr. K.P. Samy, you “or those behind you” have done a wonderful deed in bailing and supporting those detained after the rally. For this we truly appreciate your contribution towards the Indian struggle.
What ever said and done there is only one Hindarf “Makkal Sakthi” and one 18 Point Demands… not what took place “ BEHIND THE SCENES”.
Vaalga Hindraf ‘Maakal Sakthi’.
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