This is a post written by Ravi @ rarunasalam in The Citizen's Blog following my post titled "HINDRAF A HINDRANCE" (originally titled "ABOLISH HINDRAF", but the administrator decided to change it due to some reason)in the same blog:
This is an extension of my comments in the BLOG of Amel Hanan’s HINDRAF a Hindrance...
Ygkvini brought in the association of Gandhi into the argument, and of how a peaceful protest can be launched and be deemed valid, and stated similarities of the principles of Gandhi’s struggle applying to Hindraf.
Let us look into that parallelism
1/ Gandhi’s protests in South Africa was against segregation of colored people. His challenging the White community was that on Apartheid, a practise that one can equate, as cruel as the Nazi Holocaust.
Do you think that is the similar situation in Malaysia?
Is any ethnic community severely been deprived and treated cruelly?
2/ In India, when Gandhi launched his famous fasting protests, it was on the basis of gaining independence for India from British occupation.
How is this similar to the cause of Hindraf?
3/ The summary is Gandhi protested on behalf of ALL of Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Atheist and Hindu India against the British oppressors.
There was no segregation agenda on his cards, be it fighting apartheid or fighting for Independance.
And on conclusion to gaining independence, India paid a big price.
Gandhi successfully helped India gain independence, but India split in the process, and became 3 countries.
At the end of day, Indians were fighting amongst themselves and for selfish reasons, they lost all respect for fellow human beings.
Do you want for Malaysia to pay the similar price, make that very sacrifice for the sake of pressing and gaining freedom of speech and expression, in an irresponsible way?
Look Gandhi paid the highest price, in the fight of fights to unite India, he was murdered by someone of his own faith.
How sad is that when all he preached was unity and love for all, even for the very British oppressors who invaded his country.
Is that what Hindraf representing – Are they asking for unification or are they making all these loud sounds in the hope, someone will pay them to shut-up?
Isn’t Hindraf misrepresenting Malaysian ethnic Indian communities? Isn’t Hindraf playing Malaysian communities amongst each other, by their statements that ethnic Indians have been mistreated since the early immigrants? Aren’t they implying ethnic Indians are being disadvantaged by other ethnic communities?
I’d suggest you dig deeper and analyse, and you might just see that ethnic Indian’s have been marginalised by our own forefathers and founding leaders and by our present leaders, NOT by our brethren of ethnic Malays, ethnic Chinese etc.
Our Malaysian Indian founding fathers before (and during Independence around 1957) and our present leaders, did not have the foresight of community development. These very people:
1/ On the basis of maintaining culture and language, segregated ethnic Indians, by making MIC a predominantly Tamil & Hindu party.
2/ They caused segregation within an already small caucus making ethnic Indian minor collective voice, an even smaller minority.
3/ This is evident on the fact that MIC represented the smallest electorate - 7.4% in 1959; it had little support from the Indian community at large. And today, MIC does not represent (and nor does Hindraf) the ethnic Indian Community on the basis, they have no understanding of the issues that plague the community.
So, why didn’t our founding fathers and present day leaders break down barriers in MIC, and expand MIC’s dominance beyond a Tamil and Hindu speaking party?
Why did they not encourage membership to those who speak Gujerati/Hindi/Bengali – how many such members do we have in MIC? Aren’t our Gujerati brothers not ethnic Indians?
What about our Indian Bretheren who are of Muslim faith – can you tell me what the Indian Muslim population is in Malaysia, and of that, how many are in MIC today?
What is the collective economical influence that our non Tamil speaking or non-Hindu faith ethnic Indians have, as opposed to just the current membership pool that MIC aligns itself to? Aren’t there successful ethnic Indians amongst our Muslim and non-Tamil speaking bretheren?
Why did our founding fathers contribute to segregation within the party by failing to reconcile the needs of labouring class with the political aspirations of the middle class? And aren’t our present day leaders in MIC continuing the trend set by our founding fathers – where traditionalists and the lower middle class strengthen their hold within the party, the upper income and professionals move away from politics and desire to serve their community?
And where does Hindraf fit into all this? If they had any sincere wish to improve the quality of life for ethnic Indians, should they have not started the protest within the community leadership instead of voicing concern against the British and demanding recompense etc?
If Hindraf truly believed Malaysia is for all Malaysians regardless of color, faith and ethnicity, should they not have started their reform demands within the community leadership, who continue to degrade us ethnic Indians by their lack of support and encouragement?
I can rant about this, but it’s counter-productive to just whinge about MIC leadership, Hindraf and all those other conniving lot out there. These people would rather see Malaysia disintegrate than find ways to strengthen our collective influence and sovereignty of our country. Therefore I I propose to all ethnic Indians out there:
1/ Register as a member of Malaysian Indian Congress
once in, identify leaders within the grassroots who will want to stand up for unification and community improvement.
Align yourself to these like minded souls, and collectively declare your LACK OF faith and confidence in party leadership.
MIC needs to be reformed and transformed. None of the existing upper echelon should remain in leadership role. It needs an extreme makeover. Speak to your ethnic Indian Muslim and Gujerati friends to join and collectively work towards replacing this ineffective lot, and initiate the reforms the community so deeply desires.
2/ Open your social network to just amongst your ethnic group.
30 years ago, my friends were a mix of ethnic Malays, Chinese, Indians and even some “lain-lain”. Today, that trend is still maintained. And that has benefited me wholly!
Encourage your children and nephews/nieces to befriend children of other faiths and ethnicity. Contact your children’s friends parents of different faith and ethnicity and befriend them. Socialise in “mixed-bag groups, not just the same bag of nuts J”
3/ if you want change to happen, it needs to first start with yourself.
Education – that is paramount. Learn a new skill. Indulge in sports.
Get out, exercise. Cut down television, and socialise.
Once you get out and start interacting with people instead of machines and just your cousins and community folk, you can start seeing the difference. We may even realize we CAN become the generation of truly integrated Malaysians instead of the present “in-name-only” sorts.
4/ If you really want to continue protesting about something, why not it be the fundamental /root cause to all our current segregation – the use of term BANGSA in any identification or legal implement?
Aren’t we all Malaysians? Isn’t MALAYSIAN what our Bangsa is?
Isn’t that what we all are striving for – the identity of the Malaysian race?
Lets start the request for a referendum to remove the term BANGSA from continuing use in any legal implement? If there is one of you who can write me a succinct letter and effectively convey this message to our country’s leadership on requesting a referendum to remove this illogical reference of Bangsa for Malaysians, I will happily send it to the Home Ministry and Prime Minister’s office. You may ask, why not write it myself – have you seen how lengthy this blog is? J
5/ Education education education – my pet interest!
If you want to protest about another something, why not it be on removing need to maintain and continue vernacular schools, and establishing a single education system. For language and cultural education to continue, it should be part of mainstream education, not an education system of it’s own.
Ygkvini, by the way, my letters weren’t ignored. If anything, I believe some of my inputs in the last 8 years have been taken into consideration i.e. introduction of curriculum that helps students think instead of just being exam oriented, Improving on standards of English in the country and using this medium to educate core subjects while not disregarding Malay etc.
Definitely these aren’t my thoughts alone – there have been many people before me and many more after me who will continue to generate ideas and recommend improvements for the betterment of country. And what it needs for us Malaysians to do is look for ideas that serve a common benefit. And I don’t believe on should stop the minute we hit roadblocks. Individuals like our fmr. Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim indicate to me there are decent politicians in the mix of the dodgy ones. However to quit just because your point of view is not accepted or if you constantly keep hitting road blocks indicate the lack of will power. How can we entrust leadership in those who quit at the signs of strife?
We should persevere – and we should persevere to impact and convince others responsibly.
If you want to understand what impacting and convincing others responsibly means, read up on Harry S Truman’s biography.
Or I’d suggest you watch this movie Sawshank Redemption – there’s a scene in it where the character played by Tim Robbin’s (Andy) who is incarcerated in prison, writes to the State Senate requesting for books for the prison’s impoverished library. That was an inspiring scene - watch the movie...I wouldn’t want to spoil the essence of that scene for you.
6/ We should be fighting the good fight of improving our lifestyle on the basis of increasing our knowledge, and increasing our ability to become financially independent.
We should earn the respect of our peers on the basis they recognise our strengths and contributions.
We should refrain from asking for handouts or expecting others to sacrifice their net gain for the sake of our benefit. What’s the point in that? Do you think someone will just roll-over and give you their possession just because you screamed your head off?
As in sport, would it not be more rewarding if one had to work hard, and accomplish those goals, and earn the prize. while gaining respect from their fellow participants?
I hope like minded people will show me the courage and faith, by openly voicing their positive views on my striving for an Integrated Malaysia. At 37 years of age, my love for Malaysia has not diminished one bit. I still sing Negaraku with passion and pride. Why you might ask as one-two recently in their blogs? Well, Malaysia thought me to persevere. Malaysia gave me my initial opportunities to be challenged, and today, I take on the world with confidence.
Instead of just attracting nay-sayers and energy suckers who have only negative thoughts about Malaysia and who will bound to write their sad-tales, I implore my fellow Malaysians who can write positively and inspire me and others to continue the good fight!
And to those who are undecided where they stand in these issues, take stock of your situation and challenge yourself to change first before you yell out loud for change in others! You may find you’re not too far from where I presently am, that this land of ours is Great!
Lastly, I have this extract from a song that is very popular in Australia at present – titled “I am Australian”. I only wish us Malaysians could listen to these words and see ourselves in this chorus...
We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are ....
(Ravi)
This is an extension of my comments in the BLOG of Amel Hanan’s HINDRAF a Hindrance...
Ygkvini brought in the association of Gandhi into the argument, and of how a peaceful protest can be launched and be deemed valid, and stated similarities of the principles of Gandhi’s struggle applying to Hindraf.
Let us look into that parallelism
1/ Gandhi’s protests in South Africa was against segregation of colored people. His challenging the White community was that on Apartheid, a practise that one can equate, as cruel as the Nazi Holocaust.
Do you think that is the similar situation in Malaysia?
Is any ethnic community severely been deprived and treated cruelly?
2/ In India, when Gandhi launched his famous fasting protests, it was on the basis of gaining independence for India from British occupation.
How is this similar to the cause of Hindraf?
3/ The summary is Gandhi protested on behalf of ALL of Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Atheist and Hindu India against the British oppressors.
There was no segregation agenda on his cards, be it fighting apartheid or fighting for Independance.
And on conclusion to gaining independence, India paid a big price.
Gandhi successfully helped India gain independence, but India split in the process, and became 3 countries.
At the end of day, Indians were fighting amongst themselves and for selfish reasons, they lost all respect for fellow human beings.
Do you want for Malaysia to pay the similar price, make that very sacrifice for the sake of pressing and gaining freedom of speech and expression, in an irresponsible way?
Look Gandhi paid the highest price, in the fight of fights to unite India, he was murdered by someone of his own faith.
How sad is that when all he preached was unity and love for all, even for the very British oppressors who invaded his country.
Is that what Hindraf representing – Are they asking for unification or are they making all these loud sounds in the hope, someone will pay them to shut-up?
Isn’t Hindraf misrepresenting Malaysian ethnic Indian communities? Isn’t Hindraf playing Malaysian communities amongst each other, by their statements that ethnic Indians have been mistreated since the early immigrants? Aren’t they implying ethnic Indians are being disadvantaged by other ethnic communities?
I’d suggest you dig deeper and analyse, and you might just see that ethnic Indian’s have been marginalised by our own forefathers and founding leaders and by our present leaders, NOT by our brethren of ethnic Malays, ethnic Chinese etc.
Our Malaysian Indian founding fathers before (and during Independence around 1957) and our present leaders, did not have the foresight of community development. These very people:
1/ On the basis of maintaining culture and language, segregated ethnic Indians, by making MIC a predominantly Tamil & Hindu party.
2/ They caused segregation within an already small caucus making ethnic Indian minor collective voice, an even smaller minority.
3/ This is evident on the fact that MIC represented the smallest electorate - 7.4% in 1959; it had little support from the Indian community at large. And today, MIC does not represent (and nor does Hindraf) the ethnic Indian Community on the basis, they have no understanding of the issues that plague the community.
So, why didn’t our founding fathers and present day leaders break down barriers in MIC, and expand MIC’s dominance beyond a Tamil and Hindu speaking party?
Why did they not encourage membership to those who speak Gujerati/Hindi/Bengali – how many such members do we have in MIC? Aren’t our Gujerati brothers not ethnic Indians?
What about our Indian Bretheren who are of Muslim faith – can you tell me what the Indian Muslim population is in Malaysia, and of that, how many are in MIC today?
What is the collective economical influence that our non Tamil speaking or non-Hindu faith ethnic Indians have, as opposed to just the current membership pool that MIC aligns itself to? Aren’t there successful ethnic Indians amongst our Muslim and non-Tamil speaking bretheren?
Why did our founding fathers contribute to segregation within the party by failing to reconcile the needs of labouring class with the political aspirations of the middle class? And aren’t our present day leaders in MIC continuing the trend set by our founding fathers – where traditionalists and the lower middle class strengthen their hold within the party, the upper income and professionals move away from politics and desire to serve their community?
And where does Hindraf fit into all this? If they had any sincere wish to improve the quality of life for ethnic Indians, should they have not started the protest within the community leadership instead of voicing concern against the British and demanding recompense etc?
If Hindraf truly believed Malaysia is for all Malaysians regardless of color, faith and ethnicity, should they not have started their reform demands within the community leadership, who continue to degrade us ethnic Indians by their lack of support and encouragement?
I can rant about this, but it’s counter-productive to just whinge about MIC leadership, Hindraf and all those other conniving lot out there. These people would rather see Malaysia disintegrate than find ways to strengthen our collective influence and sovereignty of our country. Therefore I I propose to all ethnic Indians out there:
1/ Register as a member of Malaysian Indian Congress
once in, identify leaders within the grassroots who will want to stand up for unification and community improvement.
Align yourself to these like minded souls, and collectively declare your LACK OF faith and confidence in party leadership.
MIC needs to be reformed and transformed. None of the existing upper echelon should remain in leadership role. It needs an extreme makeover. Speak to your ethnic Indian Muslim and Gujerati friends to join and collectively work towards replacing this ineffective lot, and initiate the reforms the community so deeply desires.
2/ Open your social network to just amongst your ethnic group.
30 years ago, my friends were a mix of ethnic Malays, Chinese, Indians and even some “lain-lain”. Today, that trend is still maintained. And that has benefited me wholly!
Encourage your children and nephews/nieces to befriend children of other faiths and ethnicity. Contact your children’s friends parents of different faith and ethnicity and befriend them. Socialise in “mixed-bag groups, not just the same bag of nuts J”
3/ if you want change to happen, it needs to first start with yourself.
Education – that is paramount. Learn a new skill. Indulge in sports.
Get out, exercise. Cut down television, and socialise.
Once you get out and start interacting with people instead of machines and just your cousins and community folk, you can start seeing the difference. We may even realize we CAN become the generation of truly integrated Malaysians instead of the present “in-name-only” sorts.
4/ If you really want to continue protesting about something, why not it be the fundamental /root cause to all our current segregation – the use of term BANGSA in any identification or legal implement?
Aren’t we all Malaysians? Isn’t MALAYSIAN what our Bangsa is?
Isn’t that what we all are striving for – the identity of the Malaysian race?
Lets start the request for a referendum to remove the term BANGSA from continuing use in any legal implement? If there is one of you who can write me a succinct letter and effectively convey this message to our country’s leadership on requesting a referendum to remove this illogical reference of Bangsa for Malaysians, I will happily send it to the Home Ministry and Prime Minister’s office. You may ask, why not write it myself – have you seen how lengthy this blog is? J
5/ Education education education – my pet interest!
If you want to protest about another something, why not it be on removing need to maintain and continue vernacular schools, and establishing a single education system. For language and cultural education to continue, it should be part of mainstream education, not an education system of it’s own.
Ygkvini, by the way, my letters weren’t ignored. If anything, I believe some of my inputs in the last 8 years have been taken into consideration i.e. introduction of curriculum that helps students think instead of just being exam oriented, Improving on standards of English in the country and using this medium to educate core subjects while not disregarding Malay etc.
Definitely these aren’t my thoughts alone – there have been many people before me and many more after me who will continue to generate ideas and recommend improvements for the betterment of country. And what it needs for us Malaysians to do is look for ideas that serve a common benefit. And I don’t believe on should stop the minute we hit roadblocks. Individuals like our fmr. Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim indicate to me there are decent politicians in the mix of the dodgy ones. However to quit just because your point of view is not accepted or if you constantly keep hitting road blocks indicate the lack of will power. How can we entrust leadership in those who quit at the signs of strife?
We should persevere – and we should persevere to impact and convince others responsibly.
If you want to understand what impacting and convincing others responsibly means, read up on Harry S Truman’s biography.
Or I’d suggest you watch this movie Sawshank Redemption – there’s a scene in it where the character played by Tim Robbin’s (Andy) who is incarcerated in prison, writes to the State Senate requesting for books for the prison’s impoverished library. That was an inspiring scene - watch the movie...I wouldn’t want to spoil the essence of that scene for you.
6/ We should be fighting the good fight of improving our lifestyle on the basis of increasing our knowledge, and increasing our ability to become financially independent.
We should earn the respect of our peers on the basis they recognise our strengths and contributions.
We should refrain from asking for handouts or expecting others to sacrifice their net gain for the sake of our benefit. What’s the point in that? Do you think someone will just roll-over and give you their possession just because you screamed your head off?
As in sport, would it not be more rewarding if one had to work hard, and accomplish those goals, and earn the prize. while gaining respect from their fellow participants?
I hope like minded people will show me the courage and faith, by openly voicing their positive views on my striving for an Integrated Malaysia. At 37 years of age, my love for Malaysia has not diminished one bit. I still sing Negaraku with passion and pride. Why you might ask as one-two recently in their blogs? Well, Malaysia thought me to persevere. Malaysia gave me my initial opportunities to be challenged, and today, I take on the world with confidence.
Instead of just attracting nay-sayers and energy suckers who have only negative thoughts about Malaysia and who will bound to write their sad-tales, I implore my fellow Malaysians who can write positively and inspire me and others to continue the good fight!
And to those who are undecided where they stand in these issues, take stock of your situation and challenge yourself to change first before you yell out loud for change in others! You may find you’re not too far from where I presently am, that this land of ours is Great!
Lastly, I have this extract from a song that is very popular in Australia at present – titled “I am Australian”. I only wish us Malaysians could listen to these words and see ourselves in this chorus...
We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are ....
(Ravi)
This guy has a vision and I am impressed with his views.
I'm dedicating LISA & JESSICA'S "I AM AUSTRALIAN" to Ravi and also to everyone who is like-minded on the Hindraf issue.
I'm dedicating LISA & JESSICA'S "I AM AUSTRALIAN" to Ravi and also to everyone who is like-minded on the Hindraf issue.
But affirmation is about discrimination. And those discriminated against will never understand the big picture, the benefits of an increasingly egalitarian society.
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