By Dr DENISON JAYASOORIA
THERE are murmurings in the Indian community over posts and positions in the Cabinet, with some individuals questioning the Prime Minister's appointment of Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy as deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department recently.
The reality today is there are more Indian members of parliament in the Opposition than in Barisan Nasional.
MIC has only four MPs to DAP-PKR's eight.
Furthermore, at state level, MIC has five in three states only (Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor) whereas the Opposition has 19, with 14 under the DAP and five under PKR. Barisan Indian candidates under Gerakan and PPP all lost.
When one takes the 60 Parliamentary seats with more than 10% (and up to 30%) Indian voters, only 20 seats were won by Barisan candidates, the remaining 40 were won by Pakatan Rakyat parties.
Thus, there are more elected Indian representatives within the Opposition than in the Barisan Federal Government and state governments.
Therefore, the focus of the Barisan Indian leaders must be not to fight over positions and appointments but to compete to outdo each other for the betterment of the community.
Problems affecting the Malaysian Indian community are huge and there is much work to be done.
MIC already has two ministerial posts and two deputy ministerial posts. PPP has one.
For the last of the six posts, Waythamoorthy has been appointed deputy minister.
This is only one out of six positions, so why decry this after all the PM has tried to do for the Indian community?
Since 2008, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has addressed Indian concerns with a national approach. He has also honoured a promise made on April 18, 2013.
We should all be happy that he is keeping to his word based on the MoU signed between Barisan and Hindraf over the five-year Blueprint.
At the signing of the MoU between Barisan and Hindraf before GE13, MIC was represented by top leaders.
At that point, MIC did not raise any objection to the terms of that MoU.
While some have questioned the sincerity of Waythamoorthy, only time can tell if he is genuine in fighting for the interest of the community.
However, Najib is honouring his promise as Barisan leader and PM, and we need to recognise this.
What then is the task ahead?
First, there is a need to take stock of what the direct ministries and agencies under Indian leaders in the Barisan are.
Second, there is a need to build bridges among the Indian leaders within Barisan. There is a need to draw the resources to service the community.
Third, there is a need to work with the Barisan-friendly political parties. Over the next five years, they must engage and be active in addressing community concerns.
Fourth, there are many NGOs and civil society groups, including cooperatives, religious organisations and cultural, social and recreation-based organisations. There must be active engagement with all of them.
Who will play the coordinating role? Who has a bigger vision for the community and nation?
Unfortunately, many of the current political leaders who are mounting attacks and decrying the situations are trapped in their “little kingdoms” and “comfort zones”.
There is a need to have a bigger picture.
Ministries under MIC-Barisan Indian leadership can make a difference. It is in having a broader vision that they can tap the resources for the betterment of the community and nation.
How is this possible?
The key is for all the six appointed by Najib to draw up their action plan for the short, medium, and long term in the next five years prior to GE14.
What KPIs will they set? What process of engagement will they use? How will they disseminate their information and progressive reports?
Rationally, if we review the portfolios now held by MIC this is already significant. The ministerial role in natural resources might seem distant to Indian concerns but environmental and sustainability issues have national significance.
The minister can reveal what resources from this ministry will directly benefit the Indian community.
What are his action plans over the next five years?
The three other ministries have very significant dimensions. Setting specific national and community targets over the next five years is essential.
The Health Ministry has direct bearing on both the physical and mental health of Indians.
As a community, Indians have major problems with heart disease, diabetes, weight (obesity) and alcohol abuse.
Preventive health education and curative interventions are most essential.
Mental health too is important as it is reported that suicides are high among the Indian community.
The MIC minister now has the opportunity to resolve the major issues pertaining to recognition of medical colleges especially Crimea Medical University where there was a sizeable Malaysian Indian medical student population.
In the case of the Education and Higher Education Ministry, the MIC deputy minister must really focus on addressing the major concerns of Tamil schools, underachieving Indian students, strengthening teaching and learning of Bahasa Melayu, scholarship issues, matriculation classes and places in public universities.
In the Youth and Sports Ministry, the MIC deputy minister must look at addressing Indian youth problems.
Sports, games, and skills training are among the many opportunities available.
Over the next five years, the MIC deputy minister must focus on building the next generation of leaders for the community and nation.
In addition, the PPP Deputy Minister of Federal Territories has a major role in addressing urban poverty and the major concerns of flat dwellers especially the bottom 40% in KL.
There is a very high density of Indians living in DBKL flats where there are many unresolved issues and concerns.
It is in this context that we should review the position of the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's department.
A non-political actor might be able to focus on solving issues and concerns.The discretion of the PM must be respected in this context and we should also note the KPIs and strategies to be adopted through this department for the benefit of the bottom 40% of the Indian community.
Waythamoorthy must set up an open office and engage with all related parties and groups.
He should focus on his key task as per the MoU with the Barisan chairman and put in place KPIs and score sheets.
He is in the company of people from Pemandu who can assist him in this process, and he has the confidence of the PM.
Waythamoorthy has an uphill task but if he is humble and willing to interact with all parties, including the elected representatives of the Opposition, we will see many positive changes over the next five years.
He must keep his focus as there will be many distractions along the way. But if he stays the course as per the MoU, he would be able to achieve something many of us have tried but have not been successful.
There must be visionary leadership for inclusive involvement within the wider national development.
It is imperative that political leaders stop the infighting among themselves.They must endeavour to outdo each other in service and policy advocacy.
The objective must not be to prevent the other person from providing service but to excel and do better than the other.
Source : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/5/26/nation/13157853&sec=nation
MIC has only four MPs to DAP-PKR's eight.
Furthermore, at state level, MIC has five in three states only (Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor) whereas the Opposition has 19, with 14 under the DAP and five under PKR. Barisan Indian candidates under Gerakan and PPP all lost.
When one takes the 60 Parliamentary seats with more than 10% (and up to 30%) Indian voters, only 20 seats were won by Barisan candidates, the remaining 40 were won by Pakatan Rakyat parties.
Thus, there are more elected Indian representatives within the Opposition than in the Barisan Federal Government and state governments.
Therefore, the focus of the Barisan Indian leaders must be not to fight over positions and appointments but to compete to outdo each other for the betterment of the community.
Problems affecting the Malaysian Indian community are huge and there is much work to be done.
MIC already has two ministerial posts and two deputy ministerial posts. PPP has one.
For the last of the six posts, Waythamoorthy has been appointed deputy minister.
This is only one out of six positions, so why decry this after all the PM has tried to do for the Indian community?
Since 2008, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has addressed Indian concerns with a national approach. He has also honoured a promise made on April 18, 2013.
We should all be happy that he is keeping to his word based on the MoU signed between Barisan and Hindraf over the five-year Blueprint.
At the signing of the MoU between Barisan and Hindraf before GE13, MIC was represented by top leaders.
At that point, MIC did not raise any objection to the terms of that MoU.
While some have questioned the sincerity of Waythamoorthy, only time can tell if he is genuine in fighting for the interest of the community.
However, Najib is honouring his promise as Barisan leader and PM, and we need to recognise this.
What then is the task ahead?
First, there is a need to take stock of what the direct ministries and agencies under Indian leaders in the Barisan are.
Second, there is a need to build bridges among the Indian leaders within Barisan. There is a need to draw the resources to service the community.
Third, there is a need to work with the Barisan-friendly political parties. Over the next five years, they must engage and be active in addressing community concerns.
Fourth, there are many NGOs and civil society groups, including cooperatives, religious organisations and cultural, social and recreation-based organisations. There must be active engagement with all of them.
Who will play the coordinating role? Who has a bigger vision for the community and nation?
Unfortunately, many of the current political leaders who are mounting attacks and decrying the situations are trapped in their “little kingdoms” and “comfort zones”.
There is a need to have a bigger picture.
Ministries under MIC-Barisan Indian leadership can make a difference. It is in having a broader vision that they can tap the resources for the betterment of the community and nation.
How is this possible?
The key is for all the six appointed by Najib to draw up their action plan for the short, medium, and long term in the next five years prior to GE14.
What KPIs will they set? What process of engagement will they use? How will they disseminate their information and progressive reports?
Rationally, if we review the portfolios now held by MIC this is already significant. The ministerial role in natural resources might seem distant to Indian concerns but environmental and sustainability issues have national significance.
The minister can reveal what resources from this ministry will directly benefit the Indian community.
What are his action plans over the next five years?
The three other ministries have very significant dimensions. Setting specific national and community targets over the next five years is essential.
The Health Ministry has direct bearing on both the physical and mental health of Indians.
As a community, Indians have major problems with heart disease, diabetes, weight (obesity) and alcohol abuse.
Preventive health education and curative interventions are most essential.
Mental health too is important as it is reported that suicides are high among the Indian community.
The MIC minister now has the opportunity to resolve the major issues pertaining to recognition of medical colleges especially Crimea Medical University where there was a sizeable Malaysian Indian medical student population.
In the case of the Education and Higher Education Ministry, the MIC deputy minister must really focus on addressing the major concerns of Tamil schools, underachieving Indian students, strengthening teaching and learning of Bahasa Melayu, scholarship issues, matriculation classes and places in public universities.
In the Youth and Sports Ministry, the MIC deputy minister must look at addressing Indian youth problems.
Sports, games, and skills training are among the many opportunities available.
Over the next five years, the MIC deputy minister must focus on building the next generation of leaders for the community and nation.
In addition, the PPP Deputy Minister of Federal Territories has a major role in addressing urban poverty and the major concerns of flat dwellers especially the bottom 40% in KL.
There is a very high density of Indians living in DBKL flats where there are many unresolved issues and concerns.
It is in this context that we should review the position of the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's department.
A non-political actor might be able to focus on solving issues and concerns.The discretion of the PM must be respected in this context and we should also note the KPIs and strategies to be adopted through this department for the benefit of the bottom 40% of the Indian community.
Waythamoorthy must set up an open office and engage with all related parties and groups.
He should focus on his key task as per the MoU with the Barisan chairman and put in place KPIs and score sheets.
He is in the company of people from Pemandu who can assist him in this process, and he has the confidence of the PM.
Waythamoorthy has an uphill task but if he is humble and willing to interact with all parties, including the elected representatives of the Opposition, we will see many positive changes over the next five years.
He must keep his focus as there will be many distractions along the way. But if he stays the course as per the MoU, he would be able to achieve something many of us have tried but have not been successful.
There must be visionary leadership for inclusive involvement within the wider national development.
It is imperative that political leaders stop the infighting among themselves.They must endeavour to outdo each other in service and policy advocacy.
The objective must not be to prevent the other person from providing service but to excel and do better than the other.
Source : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/5/26/nation/13157853&sec=nation
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