Press Statement by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat in Ipoh on 12th July, 2017
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MIB: The Indian Community shall not forget that the BN government is capable of announcing plans which it cannot or does not have the real will and commitment to fulfil
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Yesterday at the launching of the " 200 Years of Tamil Education in Malaysia" book at Dengkil , the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib said the Malaysian Indian Blue Print ( MIB) is not a pie in the sky plan but a realistic blue print for the well being of the Indian community.

However, the MIB looks more an election gimmick as it was launched so close to the next general election. In 2013 the Prime Minister had signed a MoU with Hindraf. But It did not take off as promised. This clearly shows the Prime Minister was able to announce empty rhetoric promises which his government would not be able to fulfill. Therefore on the issue of MIB, The Indian Community shall not forget that the BN government is capable of announcing plans which it cannot or does not have the real wil and commitment to fulfil.

It is undeniable that the next general election is going to be very challenging for UMNO and BN. There is a possibility that BN which has ruled the nation for decades will lose federal power as there are signs that a Malay tsunami is going to happen.

The MIB is therefore a gimmick for the BN to try to win some Indian support for BN. There is no doubt that with UMNO being rocked by Malay tsunami, BN will be desperate to try to win the Indian support.

Indians voters will play a deciding votes in Parliamentary constituencies. About 60 Parliamentary seats have over 10% as registered voters. In view of the fragile position of the BN now every vote counts more so the seats where MIC is contesting. Thus the MIBP is to butter and to sway the Indians to vote for the BN.

I have said many times that the Indians citizens are the most left out in the progress of the nation. The government promised to achieve 3% equity participation by 2010. When year 2010 came the goalpost/target date was conveniently postponed . Why the shear lack of commitment to achieve this?

In 1970, there were over 17% Indians in the civil service. Now there are less than 5% Indians in the service. The GLCs are dominated by the Malays while the Chinese are strongly represented in the private sector. Indians inhabit the margins of both the civil and private sectors.

These undeniable facts that help explain the accumulation by the race of some unflattering superlatives such as that Indians compose the highest percentage of gangsters, highest incidence of alcoholism, and most number of suicides.

To effectively assist the Indians, unless all issue affecting the community is unearthed and ascertain the short comings with the Indian society nothing much can be achieved. So far the plans and policies are ad hoc an an eyewash justto shore up support from the Indian Community!!
Thus what should have been done is to form a Parliamentary Select committee which could be assigned to look to the real issues affecting the Indian community and thereafter addressing those issue holistically. Why was the Government reluctant to have a Parliamentary Select Committee ?




M.Kula Segaran
012 5034346