HINDRAF - BRIEF PRESS STATEMENT 030409
1. HINDRAF acknowledges that our grass root supporters are disappointed that the Bukit Selambau seat was not offered to any of the 5 short listed candidates (two of whom were HINDRAF coordinators and remaining 3 were reputable KEADILAN local leaders) and urge our supporters to remain focussed and calm.
2. I had spoken to HINDRAF National Coordinator RS Tanendran and he confirms that most of his statements had been taken out of context and manipulated by the government run media to portray that HINDRAF does not support PAKATAN to create confusion and anxiety amongst supporters.
3.The discretion of candidate selection in Bukit Selambau was within the prerogative of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim along with the other leaders of the PAKATAN coalition. However we hope in future there would be some level of consultation with HINDRAF to avoid any unwarranted confusion.
4.Our mutual “Political Enemy” would be no other than the BN imperialist government. Our goal is to create awareness of the depleted state of her subject, to stay focussed by initiating actions by working together hand in hand in fairness to ensure we successfully get rid of our “common enemy” in the next elections. After 50 years HINDRAF created the awareness that changed the mindset of 80% traditional Indian BN voters who had always been loyal to BN.
5. It is time all Pakatan leaders - Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mr.Lim Kit Siang and Dato Seri Haji Hadi Awang realise that the current Political climate has to be maximised. If we fail to work and act together to get rid of BN in the next GE (2012) then the hope of opposition ever taking over the reign of the Country will die permanently and I honestly envisage the crack and crumble of PAKATAN from then on.
6. I had the opportunity to discuss pertinent questions raised by grass root supporters of HINDRAF with Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and we had come to an understanding that matters affecting the Indian community would be further discussed and resolved at a later date with leaders of all 3 PAKATAN coalition.
7.The Indian voters in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau are aware of the predicament of the society and are now politically mature thus they could not be fooled by BN and their “peanuts” often thrown during elections.
8.HINDRAF reiterates its commitment to campaign and support PAKATAN candidates in both Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau.
P.Waytha Moorthy
Hindraf- Chairman
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Dear Cruzeiro,
Reading your comments I am struck by the fact that I would agree wholeheartedly with almost every point that you have made.
Yes, there is still sympathy amongst Malaysians and within PR for Hindraf’s plight; (I believe this is because there are no basic contradictions between both sets of goals)
Yes, they are poor at selling themselves, lack savvy & don’t communicate well, and this (and their methods) have turned many away from them; (50 years of oppressive conditioning has certainly left its mark)
Yes, they have a sectarian perspective (although their beliefs do not require the denial of the rights of others);
Yes, they are not cohesive, & lack leadership (most are locked up anyway);
Yes, there are some of their “leaders” with selfish personal interests;
This brings us to the question: What can we do about this?
The way I see it, there are 2 approaches we can take:
A) We give up on hindraf & their supporters, repudiate their struggle, tell them that we cannot work with them & that they are on their own
B) We engage them, establish what exactly they want, show them that fundamentally we want the same thing, listen to their fears & concerns (and they have raised some pertinent ones about PR), gradually raise their consciousness about the new political environment in Malaysia, and they themselves will expose & expel the mercenaries & cheats amongst them.
Option A would be undesirable because:
oIt’s unfair – we would be tarring all hindraf supporters with the same stereotype brush
oWe would strengthening our old enemy, and creating a new one, something that we do not need right now
Option B would have the following good points:
o We would be true to our own values of fighting for the weak, the oppressed, the marginalized (even if they themselves don’t realize it)
o We would be developing the wonderful but rare quality in any party of being able to accept criticism & work with diverse partners on common issues
o We would be responsive, transparent & respectful of our constituents, something BN never got around to doing
Is option B a pipedream? I don’t think so. But I have no illusions that it will be easy either. For one thing, the atmosphere is already charged with denunciation & counter denunciation, insult & counter insult. Both sides are standing behind their respective battle lines & shouting at each other through megaphones. If we are to get anywhere together, first we will have to stop the shouting & start respecting each other again, & with that noble aim in mind, let us be the first to extend our open hands in friendship.
Sincerely,
Malaysian Heart