Malaysia in fact has only 12 Indians in Parliament. The reason for this is because of their complexity as compared to the other racial groups. They are extensively separated by language, religion and caste. Another viable reason is because of what the political tsunami did to MIC. Many may argue that MIC does not represent the Malaysian-Indians community but the fact remains that it is the only pure Malaysian-Indian political party of note.

The Malaysian-Indians have a total of four exclusively Indians parties and another four “mixed” political parties to choose from. MIC, IPF, MIUP and DIMP are all formed as genuine Indian political parties whilst PPP, PKR, DAP and PGRM are the hybrid parties. It is because of this dilution that their voices are drowned in the background noise.

State-wise, there are 23 Malaysian-Indians represented within the State Government from all political parties. There are 505 state seats in total (excluding Sarawak). 23 represent a mere 4.5% of the total. Once again, the percentages are out of whack. There should be at least 45 Malaysian-Indians State representatives. The difference is because not all Malaysian-Indians are fielded in every constituency. With only 9% being spread around the country, the results are bound to be at the lower limit. Adding to this is the fact that not all Malaysian-Indians go out to vote. If 70% are registered voters and only 70% actually exercise their vote (assuming that they all vote for Malaysian-Indian candidates), the 4.5% figure is just about correct. That is the clinical view.

With MIC in the decline, BN will field less Malaysian-Indians in the next elections. They will use the 2008 results as justification for this reasoning. When this happens, Pakatan Rakyat will probably be the only platform for Malaysian-Indians to stand up to be counted. Look at the 2008 election results. Of the 35 total Malaysian-Indians politicians elected to both the State and Parliament, only 10 are from BN. The other 24 comes from DAP and PKR which represent 68.5% of the total (Arumugam from Bukit Selambau in Kedah is an independent candidate).

For the Malaysian-Indians to get their fair share of representation, their leaders need to choose which political party that they feel will serve them best. Additionally, they need to work within this framework of being the minority to pursue their commitments to the people they deem to represent. Working alone will not be effective due to the fact that 9% (of the Malaysian population) isn’t much. Progress is never a one-day effort; they have to work in collusion with the “big brothers” to bring about it. Learn from others as they learn from you and accept the fact that it will take time to bring about the type of democracy that all Malaysians yearn. Only by working together will this change come forth.

Accept the truth.

- Hakim Joe

Comments (17)

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written by mountain man, January 06, 2009 08:07:19

Malaysian Indians, you see the opposition is giving Indians more space to be represented, so Manika please look at he bigger picture and also where the long term representation the Indians comes from, forget about the corrupted liars in UMNO/BN they will use every excuses to marginalize Indians especially when the corrupted senile Samy is still around barking like a Mad dog and wagging his tail and licking the balls of UMNO master.

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written by freerpk, January 06, 2009 08:54:47

Here we are talking about "RACE" again....AN MP should represent all the people in his comunity. That unfortunately is the problem harbouring in the present government for the last 50 years and that is why we are just stuck in time. We can't go forward........

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written by ahmadneil, January 06, 2009 08:59:33

Even my father complain that we Indians are under represented.This is all becos of Samy Vellu.

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written by Susanna, January 06, 2009 09:18:11

In Pakatan Rakyat those who choose to serve must always remember that it is not about themselves and what they can gain out of it lest they themselves become another BN. It has been joked that if there are 3 Indians put together, they are trouble makers. Lest it be proven that the prejudice and stereotype is correct, why don't all the Indian MPs in Pakatan Rakyat choose to serve the party and do it the best that they can. Make their work count for the realisation and forming of a 2 party government than making petty demands for their race (again, the race issue). We should all work towards the fulfilment that we are all Malaysians. Don't try the 'hero' BN tactic of climbing up the ranks amongst races than respect by all Malaysians.

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written by lavendergirl, January 06, 2009 09:56:04

The problem is not only there no proper single party to represent the Indian but also the fact that the Indians themselves are clan conscious (Tamils, Malayee, Telegu etc). We need to put aside all our differences and work together to achive being Malaysian. The only way to do this is stand together with Pakatan Rakyat. One must understand that the problems faced by the Malaysian Indian community has been around for 51 years and that it cannot be solved overnight by Pakatan. So give Pakatan a chance to make the changes that is needed. Afterall it has taken Malaysian Indians 51 years to finally stand up and fight what is a few more months. Let us all work together as Malaysian to achive our right to be MALAYSIAN.

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written by denkoh, January 06, 2009 10:03:54

Trust is an issue

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written by Lembing, January 06, 2009 10:03:55

The BEST Person should be nominated by the political parties to stand in an election. In an IDEAL world, RACE Should not be the criteria used. The chosen or elected person should represent all races.

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written by Fat Zorro, January 06, 2009 10:18:05

Why are we on racial politics again? If Indians want to be represented in Malaysia exclusively by a pure Indian only political party, can we suggest BJP set up a branch in Malaysia?

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written by cruzeiro, January 06, 2009 10:36:17

Hakim,
While what you say may be true to a certain extent, I believe that it sets the stage for a very negative trend which has been propagated by the BN regime - race based politics. This mathematical calculation of "representation" is highly flawed, as there is no guarantee that a proportional representation would serve the interests of the community, other than to breed racist interests.
In that method, maybe you could even start an argument on "faith-based", color-based or socio-economic strata based calculation - where do we end up?
Nowhere.

You should've instead tried to say that in time to come, people cannot depend on a common heritage for representation - instead they should seek leadership that caters to common values. Nationhood should the prime concern, with good governance at the top of the agenda - not "proportional" racial/religious representation.
Somehow, I feel that there should be a shift from this race based representation.
Under this paradigm, one is compelled to assume that only "Indians" can represent "Indians", "Chinese, the "Chinese", and Malay the Malays. What this highlights is that there can never be trust among the people of different ethnic heritage.

We need to create awareness of our common Malaysian heritage which the BN regime seeks to undermine by its divisive and dangerous politics.
There needs to be a paradigm shift ...

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written by lokenpal, January 06, 2009 10:55:20

How does Malaysian-Indians get their fair share of representation; when we have the highest crime and alcoholism rates. We dont need more SamyVellu type just because to fill the quota.

I think Malaysian Indians should seek PAS's help to address its conerns.

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written by Rainbowseahorse, January 06, 2009 11:58:40

21 Indian MPs for 9% of Malaysian population? Yes, the writer's calculation is correct.
However, if the Indian candidates who ran for election were rejected by the people and lost in the election, what does that tell you? Do we expect the winning government to simply shoved additional Indian MPs down the rakyet's throat to make up for the imbalanced and tell the rakyet to accept and to like it?

Malaysian Indians simply need more credible and good leaders who are acceptable to the people!

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written by carribeanking7, January 06, 2009 12:13:44

There isnt a single Indian majority constituency in the country, out of 500 plus contituencies in the country only about 21 fall into the category where Indian voters are a diciding factor or tipping point and that too is highly subjective.

MIC failed miserably to look into the welfare, when people had enough HINDRAF came to the fore and MIC was trounced on GE12.

The communities share of the economic pie is miniscule about 2% -half of that belonging to Ananda Krishnan.
Whenever asked what he had done for the Indian community, Samy would rattle off the latest number of tamil schools and temples built,
these causes do nothing to improve the community economically, and I am afraid HINDRAF is also giving too much importance to these 2 issues.

There is not much difference between UMNOputras and MIC putras. Both are corrupted and only look after their cronies.
This made the downtrodden Indians flock to IPF, Samy Velu blocked IPF's entry into BN. Its Samy Velu's arrogance against the community and his impotence in standing up to UMNO, that incepted HINDRAF with their "Makkal Sakhti" battle cry, which came to public notice on November 25th 2007, which led to the recalcitrant Samy Velu who declared HINDRAF as insignificant to lose his coveted Sungai Siput parliamentary seat together with many of his MIC goons. Samy Velu was also a bare faced liar, while he agreed in public after Nov 25th 2007 that Hindraf were linked to the Tamil Tigers, he was cornered and admitted he had no proof of such links when interviewed by NDTV India.

HINDRAF must reinvent itself to be effective, the political landscape is continuously changing, and what was effective pre Mar '08 will no longer
work in the next GE, they were trailblazers of sorts in GE12 but if they continue to blaze the path they created they will burn both friend an foe
they will find to their peril that they will just drive the Malay constituents into the waiting arms of UMNO,
as it is they managed to outlaw HINDRAF while distracting the rakyat from money politics that after a storm in a teacup remains status quo within UMNO.
If HINDRAF doest not wise up they will lose like in a chess game where one gloats about taking out the opponents pawn but ends up losing the queen.

The last General election shows that race base politics are on the way out, that is why subversives have been playing on the emotions of HINDRAF supporters to alienate them from the Multiracial Pakatan coalition- its typical BN style isolate and neutralize. That is why many well meaning citizens myself included are appealing to them that they have a better chance voicing their concerns collectively at joint protests than trying to go it alone, even the second largest BN component party MCA has been neutered by UMNO.

Vijay Kumar Murugavell

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written by cruzeiro, January 06, 2009 13:18:19

Vijay,
It is indeed as you say - Hindraf risks burning friend and foe with their ghettoesque (if there is such a word) polity.
While they had legitimate concerns/motives, they should wise up on how to achieve their ideals. I'd in fact go so far as to say that they are relatively ignorant of politics, and a clueless as to how they can achieve mass appeal. First and foremost, they should be encouraging their followers to break out of the ghetto promoting Tamil schools vote-bank, so as to embrace mainstream curricula, and integrate better with the community at large. (This of course doesn't mean that I approve of them forgetting their heritage - there are better ways to preserve culture and identity without being an impediment, handicap).
It's about time they wise up and get more creative, by starting to campaigning on more inclusive and "sophisticated" ideals to achieve their goals - without that it's just a matter of time before they are despised by the majority.
Initially, they tried sucking up to MIC/BN initially through their "Kami sokong Pak Lah" campaign. In fact, I remember quite clearly, how some said that they support the current leadership - only that they want a change in the delivery system, while maintaining the status quo!!
The only reason that they became "trailblazers" of sorts was becos they decided to support PR in despair, and "dared rebel"- to stand up to reject the ruling elite in the end. That woke many up from their slumber. However, without the PR taking up their struggle, defending them and giving them voice in mainstream politics, they would've died a natural death of sorts.
Banging the racial drums of war/ "patriotism"/ representation and taking ideas (as Hakim suggests), will only isolate them further - only to fit into the BN modus operandi to become sitting ducks for subtle persecution.
Not just Hindraf, but all politicians need some "higher ideal" to reinvent themselves politically - catering to sectarian interests as many currently do (mostly in reflex action), doesn't augur well for nationhood, which should be the prime concern of all and sundry.

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written by ssathia, January 06, 2009 13:24:14

Haking Joe wrote "Malaysia in fact has only 12 Indians in Parliament. The reason for this is because of their complexity as compared to the other racial groups. They are extensively separated by language, religion and caste."

The above reasoning given for the low number of Indian parliamentarians is incorrect. Although recent statistics are not given by the Government, at least as per older statistics, the vast majority of Malaysian Indians, i.e, 85% are Tamils of whom about 90% are Hindus. Even among non-Tamil Indians, the vast majority understand and speak Tamil, with a good number of them indistinguishable from Tamils. So language is not an issue. Nor is religion. Although caste is present, it is not a major determinant. The author Hakim Joe stands to be corrected.

The main reason why there are so few Indian parliamentarians lies with the decision making policies at Barisan Nasional level. In wishing to ensure victory of candidates, BN's traditional way of assessing is by looking at racial representation in each of the consistencies. Unfortunately there are no Indian majority constituencies. So, BN thinks that Indians being the minority in every constituency, the chance of Indian candidates winning is lower than other races.

If political parties in Malaysia and the voting electorate are matured enough and adopt the policy of best man or woman for the job discounting the racial factor, there are bound to be many more Indians in the government. Since BN and its government does not seem to believe in meritocracy, we find for example, there are hardly any Indians in senior positions in the Government linked local companies, whereas Indians abound many foreign international companies which require far more capable people to run.

Having said that, why must it be that only Indians should represent themselves? Is not a Malay or Chinese or Kadazan or Iban sufficiently matured, intelligent and capable of representing not just Indians but all people irrespective of the racial factor?

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written by Rainbowseahorse, January 06, 2009 14:22:08

ssathia,

Your surmise of the issue is among the most logical.

Indeed, "why must it be that only Indians should represent themselves? Is not a Malay or Chinese or Kadazan or Iban sufficiently matured, intelligent and capable of representing not just Indians but all people irrespective of the racial factor?"

If Malaysian Indians persist on their racial representation, then perhaps they should consider forming communities whereby they become the majority....but not necessarily living together in one area, but registering as voters in particular constituencies to become the majority.

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written by mykantree, January 06, 2009 16:45:42

That's quite a detailed analysis by Halim Joe. Good job on trying to put where our Malaysian Indians, or is it Indian Malalysians stand, as far as their representation in the government is concern. But what Hakin has done is to continue to draw attention to the point that such thinking harps back to racial represenation; something that our present generation would prefer to leave behind.

I would prefer that we analise if our MPs and adUNs have other more pertinent qualifications and quality, other than ethnicity, to represent their constituents.

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written by fdqn, January 06, 2009 20:41:30

Its time to think like a Malaysian, whoever is the best person to lead and can deliver,then he/she should be the leader, so please do not pick a person by the color of the skin,out look ,race ect.ect.Look at his/her ability to lead and deliver and let it be the only criteria

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