Hindraf tearing apart community even more

AT LAST somebody has spoken up. I agree with V.K. Chin that there is no unity among the Indians and the Indian-based organisations in the country (“Indian groups should join hands for community” – The Star, Dec 14).
A hundred and one organisations are fighting for 101 causes in 101 directions!
And on top of that, each has its own agenda, but never the interest of the community in mind.
I am sure that not all Indians support the Hindraf cause.
We saw the demonstrators carrying pictures of Mahatma Gandhi. Did he at any time teach the people to betray their own country?
I have one question to the leaders of Hindraf.
Did any of their family members take part in the rallies they organised?
Are any of their family members or relatives facing charges in court for illegal assembly?
Those who are facing the consequences today are innocent people, innocent people who were misused by Hindraf leaders.
We all have grievances and complaints.
They need to be addressed in a proper and orderly manner.
The Government is ever ready to listen to us.
It is very painful to see that the learned lawyers are the ones who divert the attention of the community towards committing a very irresponsible act.
Let the incident of Hindraf be a lesson to us.
Let us all put our hands and minds together for the betterment of the Indian community.
For me, peace and harmony is precious.
I am a proud Malaysian - born a Malaysian, living as a Malaysian and shall die a Malaysian!

K. RAJESWARY,
Kuala Lumpur.

tunku : me too proud to be Malaysian - born a Malaysian, living as a Malaysian,shall die a Malaysia and will die for MALAYSIA.

Indian groups should join hands for community
ALL Indian groups must work together to help in uplifting the economic, welfare and social status of the community. This is the only way to ensure that Indians can enjoy all the benefits under the nation’s development programmes.
They will never be able to achieve this objective if there is no unity among them. They cannot operate in isolation and they must team up to do the job.
It is important therefore that all organisations, including political parties and religious, youth and welfare bodies join hands. Without this solidarity, they will be mere voices in the wilderness.
Every association must work purely in the interests of the community, and there must be no hidden agenda. So far, the Malaysian Indian Congress, being a key component member of the Barisan Nasional, has been the one representing Indians in the Government.
Since it is a political party, it has been carrying the flag of the Indian community for the past 50 years. In fact, it is the oldest political party of the ruling coalition.
Being the junior of the Big Three in Barisan, the MIC has actually performed above expectations in exacting more benefits from the Government for the Indians.
Much of this credit must go to its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who has become such a political force since he took charge of the party some 30 years ago. He is really the face of the Indian community.
Of course there are some Samy-come-lately who feel that he is not doing enough, and trying to belittle his contributions to the welfare of the community. They even tried to topple him.
But these detractors should not waste their time on such negative pursuits. Being in the political mainstream, the MIC is the proper forum to channel Indian grievances and complaints to the Government for action.
The other Indian-based organisations can only act as pressure groups since they represent a very small percentage of the Indian community, unlike the MIC.
Naturally, Samy cannot promise every Indian a million ringgit, but he can assure them of education, economic and social opportunities. He can be more effective if the other Indian non-governmental organisations can work with his party or whoever heads the MIC in the years ahead.
In other words, the party cannot be sidelined, or to use a more common term these days, be marginalised. If any new group is keen to promote Indian interests, they must do it together with the MIC.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Umno will never waver from this position. No one can hope to have a meeting with Pak Lah about the future of Indians without the presence of Samy Vellu or the MIC’s representatives.
After all, it would appear that the MIC and Indian NGOs have the common objective of looking after the community’s interests. So what is wrong with working together, unless they have their own political agenda?