Let the next election be the beginning of A Better Malaysia for All.

Speech by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at DAP Deepavali Function held at Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur  on Sunday, November 4, 2012

Let the next election be the beginning of A Better Malaysia for All. 

Yesterday, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam reminded employers not to practice racial discrimination in the recruitment of workers.

He said they should be transparent and not put certain conditions that prevent certain races from joining their organisations.

“If there is evidence of discrimination, the ministry can take action against the employer in accordance with the provisions of existing laws,” he further said.

I certainly agree that there should not exist any racial discrimination in the recruitment of workers.
However, Subramaniam must not direct his comments at private employers only.

What he ought to have said is that the government will lead by example and practice a color blind policy in all fields, be it economic, educational polices etc.

But despite the BN coalition having been in power for 55 years, raced based policies continue to exist.

A government that practices raced based policies cannot be the hope of the people. 

BN cannot be relied upon if we want a Better Malaysia. Similarly, MIC has failed to effectively serve the interest of the Indian community and it is not a party that the Indians can trust and rely on. 

The recent issue involving the Batu Caves Condo Project proves again the hypocrisy and uselessness of MIC. 

The BN was the party running the Selangor Government in 2007 when the building plans for the condo project were submitted to the Selayang Local Council for the necessary approvals.

At the material time, the present Deputy Foreign Minister A Kohilan Pillay was a councillor with 4 more from the MIC and many more from the BN Coalition.

The councillors had the full authority to approve or reject this scheme.  But they approved the project.

Yet today, MIC is trying to put the blame on Pakatan Rakyat government that only came into power in 2008.

Kohilan now even has the audacity to try to insult the people’s intelligence by claiming that what was approved in 2007 was only a planning permit. 

There is no doubt that the MIC and BN Councilors who approved the project are guilty for the wrong done to the Batu Cave Murugan temple and the Hindu community.

MIC must take disciplinary actions against these MIC councilors concerned as well as openly apologise to the Temple Committee and the Hindu community.

The issue is yet another proof that MIC is not a political party that can serve and protect the interest of the Indian community. 

So come the next general election, the Indian voters should once again play their kingmaker role and bring about a new Putrajaya government helmed by Pakatan Rakyat.

Let the next election be the beginning of A Better Malaysia for All.