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Still Awaiting the “New Sunrise” Little Has Changed for Indian Malaysians in the 20 Years of Samy’S Leadership of the MIC by Martin Jalleh

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Still Awaiting the “New Sunrise” Little Has Changed for Indian Malaysians in the 20 Years of Samy’S Leadership of the MIC by Martin Jalleh PP3739/12/2000 ISSN 0127 - 5127 / RM3.00 / 2000:20(11/12) Aliran Monthly 20(11/12) Page 1 COVER STORY Still Awaiting The “New Sunrise” Little has changed for Indian Malaysians in the 20 years of Samy’s leadership of the MIC by Martin Jalleh n May last year, S. Samy III Vellu, president of the Malaysian Indian Con- gress (MIC) promised the 300,000-odd plantation workers in the country “a new sunrise”. “The period of sunset will diminish...when monthly wages come into effect”. And the new hope was supposed to have been realised by the end of last year. The year has ended, yet another promise is broken, and the plan- tation worker is still unable to see light. the scandalous marginalisation of his 21st year as president of the the Indian Malaysian, the planta- MIC. He wants us to know that Even if the Government were to tion worker in particular, remains the MIC is the second oldest po- announce tomorrow an agreed a “damn spot” which the Govern- litical party in the country, monthly wage, (after 50 years!)... ment, the MIC and Samy cannot formed three months after UMNO erase. in 1946. This, of course, has very much to He very proudly believes that the do with the leadership of the In- MIC “is the only party represent- dian community. Alas, there is no ing the Indians in the country” reason to believe, when one looks (Sun, 14 Sept 2000) But for the back at 20 years of Samy’s feudal- majority of Indians in this coun- istic leadership and lordship, that try, little has changed with the the Indian Malaysian will see MIC, definitely very little with sunrise. Samy. 20 Years Samy is adamant that the Indian S. Samy Vellu is now into community “has benefited and Aliran Monthly 20(11/12) Page 2 EDITOR'S NOTE The Indian Community In Malaysia CONTENTS In the run-up to last November’s Lunas by-election, the nation’s attention was drawn to the position of the Indian community in Malaysian politics. The COVER STORY nomination of keADILan’s Saifuddin Nasution to ••• Still Awaiting The “New Sunrise” 222 challenge the MIC’s candidate in a seat tradition- ••• Monthly Wage 999 ally “reserved” for Indians was seen by some as a slight against Indian Malaysians. ••• Cause Of Violence 111111 ••• Pioneers, Squatters The election result reveals that a majority of the In- And Flat Dwellers 141414 dian voters in Lunas voted for the BN unlike their Malay and Chinese counterparts.Some observers ••• Breakthrough In Klebang 161616 have concluded that “the Indians are a lost cause” in the struggle for reforms. FEATURES ••• Malay Unity : A Shift - Not A Rift 222222 Aliran believes that all Malaysians, especially the lower class, are yearning for change. But not enough ••• Exorcising Phantom Voters 262626 effort has been made to reach out to them. A first ••• Rape : Inadequate Sentencing step is to understand their plight which demands And Legal Procedures 292929 urgent action. In this issue AM looks behind the ••• The Promise And Perils Of promises made by Samy and the MIC and the hype over alcoholism and gangsterism. Global Health, Inc. 353535 ••• The Oslo Process Is Dead 373737 Martin Jalleh documents the lack of change for the ••• Justice In Double Jeopardy 404040 poor Indians under Samy’s 20-year tenure. Dr M Nadarajah debunks the simplistic explanation that Tamil movies cause violence within the community. REGULARS Rather, it’s marginalisation, he insists. S ••• Thinking Allowed 191919 Arutchelvan explores why the decades-old monthly ••• Current Concerns 313131 wage issue hasn’t been resolved. Dr Yeoh Seng Guan laments the passing of a squatter community and ••• LettersLettersLetters 323232 the dispersal of its residents into high-rise “chicken- coops”. OTHERSOTHERSOTHERS ••• Subscription Form 181818 But there have been significant, if small, break- throughs. Veerasenan reports a breakthrough in the struggle of the Klebang residents against a devel- oper, while Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj informs us of an- other battle to rid the Sg Siput electoral rolls of phan- toms. Perhaps there’ll be change there in the 2004 elections which might have far-reaching effects for Published by the Indian community in Malaysia. Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN) 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, ALIRANALIRANALIRAN is a Reform Movement dedicated to Penang, Malaysia. Justice, Freedom & Solidarity and listed on the Tel : (04) 658 5251 Fax : (04) 658 5197 roster of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Founded in 1977, Aliran welcomes Homepage : http://www.malaysia.net/aliran all Malaysians above 21 to be members. Contact the Hon. Secretary or visit our webpage. Printed by Angkatan Edaran Enterprise Sdn. Bhd. Lot 6, Jalan Tukang 16/4, Seksyen 16, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Aliran Monthly 20(11/12) Page 3 achieved from the country’s eco- nomic progress” (NST, 12 Nov 2000). Yet, the resolutions of each MIC General Assembly appar- ently have been the same with each passing year...for the past 20 years! A delegate at last year’s 54th MIC General Assembly, stated: “We pass the same or similar resolu- tions every year and memoran- dums have been presented to the authorities, but we are not taken seriously.” A Sad Joke the economic status of Indians”. words are all Samy has, as he Even Samy does not take his claim begs, bows, and bends before his that the Indian Malaysian has Samy had even declared at the political Master — who never benefited seriously. He contra- 54th MIC General Assembly that fails to pat him on the dicts himself ever so often. What “the rubber industry workers have shoulder...as the Indian plantation he says has become a joke, a sad been neglected over the past 150 worker continues to bear the brunt joke. years.” on his/her shoulders... Consider this, on Deepavali Day “...and,” he would add, “...the The evidence is so clear and com- last year Samy had urged the In- MIC is committed to ensuring a pelling — whether it be in hous- dians to ponder on the “abun- dramatic and significant change ing, health, education or econom- dant wealth provided by the Gov- in their lives in this century (NST, ics... the Indian Malaysian, the ernment for the people”. Yet be- 28 May 2000). plantation worker in particular, fore the 54th MIC General Assem- has been shortchanged. bly he had called on Indians to One hundred and fifty years of free themselves from the “shack- neglect — yet Indians have “ben- Housing Woes les of poverty” (Star, 27 May 2000)! efited”? Is this a joke? So where have the MIC and Samy been all During his term as MIC president, Indians should not consider them- these years? It appears that Samy thousands of Indian plantation selves “third-class” citizens. They Vellu and the MIC leaders have workers have been displaced from have benefited much from the no sense of shame. their homes and from the land country’s progress (NST, 12 Nov which they and their forefathers 2000). Yet months before, he had “The primary responsibility of re- had cleared, toiled and lived on. spoken so emotionally of the need dressing social imbalances to correct “the imbalance of eq- among the communities falls on For their daring and dedication in uity participation” of the Indians! the Government’s shoulders” — transforming harsh jungles into such strong and brave words, es- productive rubber estates, they According to Samy, the Indian pecially with the PM seated beside have been deprived of a home, in Malaysian is equal to all other him at the 54th MIC General As- many cases, to make way for the citizens...yet he would when the sembly. development of luxury homes. occasion suits him ramble, rave and roar about the “...uplifting (of) They remain mere words, and For their long-service to their em- Aliran Monthly 20(11/12) Page 4 ess intended to break their resolve not be solving problems on an ad for justice. hoc basis. We should find perma- nent solutions”. Sad to say too, many of the plan- tation workers are in their twilight Later when opening the Federal years. Some have served as long Territory MIC Convention, Samy as 40 to 50 years. They have no- had said that a special commit- where to go, they know not an- tee would be set up in the Federal other trade — “engines for Ma- capital to “look into the woes of laysia’s economic growth” (ac- the community”. cording to Samy), yet now dis- carded. “I have directed Senator Datuk V.K.K. Teagarajan (the FT MIC According to the 1998 Productiv- chief) to set up a special commit- ity Report , estate workers played tee and gave him two months to a vital role in generating the come up with the list of Indians RM15.8 billion or 11 per cent of who are living in squatter areas the country’s revenue. For a peo- and long-houses” (NST, 14 July ple whose contribution to the 1997). economy has been so substantial surely they deserve better. Three years have passed. Yet at the MIC General Assembly last year, At the 4th Selangor MIC conven- Samy cited the case of some 25,000 tion at the Dewan Jubilee in Shah Indian Malaysians still living in Alam, Samy, with almost blurry squatter houses! So what had the eyes, “deplored the plight of thou- “special committee” done? sands of displaced estate workers living in squalor in dozens of During a verbal clash in Parlia- long-houses and squatter settle- ment in November last year over ments all over Selangor” (Star, 14 the Opposition’s allegation that July 1997).
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