Call on Indian voters to play their Kingmaker role

Speech by M Kula Segaran at Interlok Withdrawal Appreciation Ceremony organized by NIAT in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, Feb 11, 2012.

Call on the Indian community which has long been marginalized by the BN government to play their kingmaker role for a bigger and most important mission in the next general election—to bring about A Better Malaysia for All.

On March 24 last year, I had questioned the Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in Parliament on why the government was not prepared to withdraw the Interlok novel from the schools.

Muhyiddin insisted that the novel would not be withdrawn by the government and would continue to be used in the secondary school syllabus.

Muhyiddin claimed that the independent panel had agreed to the proposed amendments.

I retorted that Muhyiddin had given a low standard reply and he shot back, saying that even MIC had agreed to the amendments. .

MIC has long lost the credibility to be the voice of the Indian community and yet Muhyiddin could use MIC‘s agreement to justify the insensitive and irresponsible stand of the government.

So what MIC agreed?

Government was insensitive because the novel had especially hurt the feelings of the Indian community. Irresponsible because the novel would poison the minds of the students and will not promote inter racial understanding and unity.

But finally the government has to give in and withdraw the novel from the schools.

Nevertheless, we must ask what actions have been taken against the Committee which approved its usage

Why did not the Committee follow the Ministry of Education guidelines on type of text books to be used?

Are the Little Napoleons not to be accountable for the fiasco?

We must also ask why the BN government has suddenly seen the light that the book is not suitable as claimed by all who have opposed its continued usage in schools.

I don’t think our government leaders lack the basic intelligence to know that the novel was not suitable. And I honestly believe that they knew the novel has hurt the feelings of the people.

But this is a government that lacks the necessary political will to do what is right, unless its political power base is being threatened.

There is therefore no doubt whatsoever that the power of the Indian voters has finally forced the BN government to give in.

BN government is fully aware that there are over 50 parliamentary seats which voters from the minority will make a difference in determining which party will emerge victorious.

The Indian voters who had played the kingmaker role in the last general election have the trump card again.

Hence, the government’s u turn is due to its fear of the possible repeat of the King maker role played by the Indian voters in the next general elections.

This shows how an arrogant and insensitive government has to listen to the people’s voices if the people can decide its rise or downfall.

I call on the Indian community which has long been marginalized by the BN government to play their kingmaker role for a bigger and most important mission in the next general election—to bring about A Better Malaysia for All.

Come next election, Indian voters must rise to the occasion and vote Pakatan Rakyat to helm the Putrajaya government!