Picture Credit: Deva Darshan
Indian Diaspora Uprising on Sunday 25 November 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, outside the British High Commission, was followed by the Rose Rally in mid-February 2008 in Putrajaya, three weeks before GE12 on 8 March 2008. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) lose five states!
PRESS STATEMENT . . .
The MAP (Malaysian Advancement Party) and HINDRAF will jointly organise a countdown to 100 years of Merdeka on Monday 25 November 2024, on the 17th anniversary of its Neo-Democratic Revolution on Sunday 25 November 2007.
The Indian Diaspora Uprising on Sunday 25 November 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, outside the British High Commission, was followed by the Rose Rally in mid-February 2008 in Putrajaya, three weeks before GE12 on 8 March 2008. The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) lose five states!
Merdeka 67 . . .
On Saturday 31 August 2024, the nation will celebrate its 67th Merdeka celebrations.
MAP and Hindraf are not genuinely enthusiastic about the country's achievements, seeing how politicians are dividing the country along race and religion, and matters have turned out worse after PMX took over.
Coming from the minority Indian Diaspora in Malaya, and having legal background, sets one questioning the real meaning and essence of Merdeka, Constitutional provisions and democratic society from different perspective.
Independence in Malaysia appears Narrative that isn't subscribed, nor entirely accepted, in the other half of Malaysia i.e. the Borneo states and minority communities in Malaya.
The Narrative on Merdeka was not seen from a wholesome Malaysian perspective.
Once a year, we dishonestly satisfy ourselves that we are genuinely Malaysian, united and living in peace and harmony, respecting each other's culture, way of life, and religion.
We celebrate diversity and proudly fly the Jalur Gemilang for a month.
TV and radio adverts portray a united multi-racial society, showcasing how happily the various races live together.
How many of us believe the Astro TV advert catchphrase—"INILAH KITA." Ask yourself honestly.
Once Malaysia Day was over on September 16, eventually, disharmony and racial and religious sentiments will be stirred by politicians and members from religious groups.
Objections . . .
Take a recent example. There was a particular religious figure who raised objections when group of Muslim, authorised by the Islamic body, visited non-Muslim places of worship for better understand the beliefs and way of life.
Then another Mufti said that say the visit was okay for propagating Islam in those places of worship.
In Terengganu, the politicians barred women singing at a Chinese temple festival.
How would these actions benefit nation-building and unity?
Allocation Unfair . . .
When the nation's budget was presented in Parliament, there was almost RM 2b allocated for Islam, while the non-Muslim, probably represented by ten different religious groups (or more), were thrown pittance of RM50m.
So much for the 1st Principle under Rukun Negara -- Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan (Belief in God).
Nothing For Downtrodden . . .
What about economic programmes for the downtrodden Indian Diaspora who have been recognised as the poorest by UN? PMX openly admits this but does nothing in terms of policy formulation.
From the 1970’s, 800,000 4th and 5th generation members of the Indian Diaspora were evicted from the estates. We witnessed Asia's largest displaced society, yet this was not an issue at all despite the UN's guidelines on dealing with displaced communities.
The Indian Diaspora in Malaya was thrown into abject poverty overnight.
The evicted Indian Diaspora estate workers, homeless as a result of displacement, built houses in fringes of cities. They were labelled as illegals, their houses illegal, their new places of worship illegal, and their stateless offspring illegal.
The list goes on.
Indian Diaspora Illegal . . .
To cut long story short, everything about the Indian Diaspora in Malaya was illegal.
Can you imagine what would happen if the government declared with impunity that Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur was government land, given for settlement before Merdeka, and takes back the kampung?
Land issues affecting the Indian Diaspora in Malaya are not new.
Take Gatco (state sanctioned land grab) and Kampung Buah Pala (DAP initiated land grab), as examples.
Take the cancelled Nenggiri dam project worth billions, but deemed unnecessary by a cabinet paper as the project costs RM1.7b more, but the project got reinstated without justification. Large areas of natural forests and fauna that go back to ancient civilization 8K years ago would be destroyed.
No leader in the country would dare say nor speak the truth because people from the top and highly influential, with billions at their disposal, are involved.
Those who oppose these land grabs and mutilation of nature are accused of being leftists and anti-national/anti-establishment.
Article 153 . . .
All Malaysian respect Article 153 in the Federal Constitution.
Despite spending more than RM1.5t, no one dared ask the powers that be the real reason why the local ummah was still backward community.
Where did the money go?
No one questioned whether the New Economic Policy (NEP) and the subsequent policies actually met targets and what were the drawbacks.
Politicians spook Muslim that they are under siege and that if they are not careful, their rights will be taken away by the Chinese Diaspora and that they will be beggars in their own country.
How long more would politicians cheat and mislead the people?
These kinds of lies have entrapped the mindset of the local Ummah permanently.
The mega projects and initiatives, meant for uplifting the local ummah, only benefit the elite group who control the politics, the GLC, and government agencies.
This system has created brotherhood among the Muslim elite, aided and abetted by tycoons in the Chinese Diaspora and Indian Diaspora. That ensures those few remain in politics as well in their fat-earning GLC positions, while those in positions of power and influence, milk the system.
How much of these ventures meant to uplift the local ummah actually benefit the community?
Just look at the scandal of Mara's investment losses in 2022 alone. The loss totals RM286m.
MAHB, the goose that lays golden eggs with a profit of RM500 million per annum, was being sold to an Israel-linked establishment.
PMX and ministers justify such a sale, while on the other hand, PMX champions himself as the saviour of the Palestinian cause.
Instead of expanding MAHB and proving that Muslim corporate leaders could reach the skies, the elite group has already cut its deals and are hell-bent on pursuing the sale of MAHB for personal gain.
Divided . . .
Again, to cut long story short, so long as politicians can keep this multi-cultural, multilingual and multi-religious society divided, they and their offspring would survive beyond 100 years of Merdeka.
Who cares about nation-building, prosperity of the nation and well-being of the country?
The people are gullible.
Spook the Muslim, make the Chinese Diaspora easy punching bags, and portray the Indian Diaspora as criminals.
Just throw crumbs at the Indian Diaspora politicians in PH (Pakatan Harapan) and MIC, and they will keep society at bay.
Grassroots Unity . . .
If Malaysian, regardless of differences, we mean the grassroots, raise their political awareness and boldly challenge the status quo, there was good chance that Malaysia can be saved before the children and grandchildren celebrate Malaysia’s 100th Merdeka anniversary.
The Muslim grassroots, Chinese Diaspora grassroots, Indian Diaspora grassroots and Borneo grassroots, must arise as one united force. It must be without manipulation, based on differences, but as true Malaysian and the nation would surely succeed.
Editor's Note: this Press Statement was received by WhatsApp on Friday 23 August 2024.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in the Press Statement do not necessarily represent those of the Center for Policy Initiatives (CPI).
