Comments on: Malaysia’s Indian Challenger

By: ravindran

ravindran — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:29:09 +0000

Let me tell all who are known as Indians. First of all in India none of the states are friendly with each other behaving worse than Pak/India. Next the people are further divided into various caste sectors,which is more dangerously divisive than what Indians face abroad. They get slaughtered here. There is no common language here whereby any two person can converse and treat each other as Indians. There is colour bar between North Indians and South Indians,a small time apartheid is in practice here. Like that the government has divided the people on religion and reservations even after 60 years of Independence. In spite of these drawbacks Indian politicians will only bark without taking any action. Indians are different from the way Strong China is ruled. Probably due to Karmas and Punyas,India survives peacufully.

By: tai pan

tai pan — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:49:31 +0000

How long does the Malaysian government want to use this quota system? forever? When is the end? What about the minorities – Chinese and Indians? Why should there be terms such as “bumiputras” – the government is the one deviding the people by using terms bumiputra and so on. The Chinese and the Indian feel as Malaysians and nothing else. The government should start think as Malaysian and not as for bumis one rule and other another.

By: sundra alheid

sundra alheid — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:11:49 +0000

I am sorry there is a mistake on the comments which i send earlier – that is malaysia should’t be devided into quata system. (and not as written should be devided into quata system) sorry guys!!!!

By: sundra alheid

sundra alheid — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:17:05 +0000

Hi everyone, We should be worrying about the present situation (for Indians) instead of arguing about the past. We should think as Indians and not as Tamilian, Gujirati, Panjabi and so on. I think we should contribute for the developement of the Indian community as collective and not as mentioned above. The Indians should inform their children what’s really going on and let them take active part in politic, too. Most of the younger generations don’t really know what’s really going on. Maybe the political leaders should not only give speeches amoung the grownup generations but also younger ones (minors) too. Malaysia should be devided into quota system. One should be given everywhere a chance according to his or her ability and qualifications. sural.

By: sundra alheid

sundra alheid — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:16:35 +0000

Hi everyone, We should be worrying about the present situation (for Indians) instead of arguing about the past. We should think as Indians and not as Tamilian, Gujirati, Panjabi and so on. I think we should contribute for the developement of the Indian community as collective and not as mentioned above. The Indians should inform thier children what’s really going on and let them take active part in politic, too. Most of the younger generations don’t really know what’s really going on. Maybe the political leaders should not only give speeches amoung the grownup generations but also younger ones (minors) too. Malaysia should be devided into quota system. One should be given everywhere a chance according to his or her ability and qualifications. sural.

By: indian

indian — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:19:28 +0000

it’s true that the “Kalinga empire” which stretched from andra pradesh from the south,orissa in the eastern indian.Their religion practised was jainsim,though the were some tamil kingdom which was vassals to the kalinga kingdom.There are also evidence to suggest that trade was practised between java,thailand,malaysia,bali and the “kalinga” kingdom.some of the king’s settled down in south-east asia intermarried with the locals.I also find it puzzling the reference to tamil’s as “kilangs”.Kalinga was not a tamil kingdom,unlike the chola’s.The laugauge used was “brahmi” not tamil.Their origin’s are traced before 200 B.C.

By: indian

indian — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:01:18 +0000

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country,with different races.Mr sivanesan, in wanting to see the enhancement of tamil minority is truly commendable.I was wondering if leaders like Datuk samy velu had done their role's effectively,there would not be no hindraf or sivanesan.I do agree there is lot more to do,for indian communitys.

But I must add a word of caution,some of them had indicating "LTTE" (liberation of Tamil Tigers of Elam) style approach) to spearhead the indian cause.I must say it's destiny to fail.First the tamil's in sri lanka are against sinhalese who might be majority in sri lanka,but they are minority when you compare to the 60 million stong tamil population in tamil nadu, right at the door-stop.The terrain,which sri lankan tamil's had settled are mostly dense under-growth,the narrow water-channels between tamil nadu and sri lanka make's logistic support possible.If u want to wage war with muslims in malaysia in the same format as sri lanka tamil did to sinhalese,it will turn out to be islamic jihad,which might drag largest muslim nation indonesia and other muslim elements within the equation,which will lead to massive carnage.Many had pointed out US and UK would pressure malaysia for the beneift of tamil interest.I doubt this would materliase as malaysia and indonesia are stragedic partner in their "war in terror",at the most they will release some statement on human right's.Lastly,economic sancation It would not have much impact,if it materliase.why? after 9/11 attack's,many oil-rich arab nations are feeling very uneasy about placing their billions in america or westeren nations,they have channeled most of it to malaysia via Islamic banking.It had become global hub for islamic banking.

I hope as,indians we should emphaise the indian people to get a better education,even if u are not so educated,you can cross the causeway and find a job with good salary(the conversion rate from singapore currency to malaysian ringgat).I hope Mr sivanesan will work with proper channel's to address the indian problem,as the previous leadership had choosen to have one on one coalition with the govt,I hope he will provide new approach in his leadership which include's working with all relevant body's to solve the indian problems and stamping out corruption.May god be with u

By: Preston

Preston — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:38:08 +0000

Yes, the Malaysian elections were historic. The BN's comfortable 2/3 majority (necessary for changing the constitution, which has happened often) was reduced to a simple majority. The opposition parties did really well, especially the DAP, which has attracted a lot of Indians. The MIC was gutted, and Samy Vellu lost his seat after three decades in government. Sivanesan won his seat in Perak.

It's important to point out that the election wasn't narrowly about the treatment of Indians in Malaysia but a referendum on the rights of all minorities, government corruption, cronyism, and the status quo. Political participation expanded significantly after Nov. 25th, and the incumbents were dealt a hard blow.

The BN will continue to rule but with a reduced mandate and a much more vital (and larger) opposition.

By: gaik

gaik — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:38:44 +0000

I think the recent election results in Malaysia show the kind of collective political clout indian Malaysians can have when they put their minds to it. Not only did Samy Vellu lose his seat but almost all the top leadership of MIC lost. But I think what is also most heartening is that Malaysians voted across racial lines this time around because they no longer believe in racial politics. Look at Manoharan (one of the imprisoned HINDRAF leaders) who won in a mostly-Chinese majority neighbourhood. Also, Malaysians are sick of the corruption, as manifested in them voting in 4 people who were involved in exposing the Lingam video case: the guy who shot the video that indicted lawyer Lingam; the lawyer that represented Lingam’s brother (who testified against him), and two more who were witnesses but who weren’t called. All stood for elections under Anwar Ibrahim’s multiracial PKR (People’s Justice PArty). Many of the new people who won seats in the Opposition have no political experience but are people who are perceived to have integrity. The results register protest votes but are also very much about the desire for transparency, accountability and better efficient and clean management. Lastly, the results are surprisingly amazing when you realise how mch of a media blackout there was in Malaysia when it comes to coverage of the opposition’s campaign, and despite the threats from the ruling government about racial violence if voters vote against them. I think there is a kind of quiet courage from those who voted for the Opposition and as a MAlaysian, I’m thankful for that.

On another issue altogether, can anyone help me with this question: I’m doing research on tamil Muslim eateries in MAlaysia and Tamil Muslim identity. I notice that in the material I’ve read so far, everyone seems to say that the kingdom of “Kalinga” is a south Indian one. (Since Malaysian Indians, the majority of whom are Tamil Muslims, are known as Keling –now a pejorative term). But my random search on Wikipedia notes that this ancient kingdom was in the north. There seems to be a mistake somewhere along the line?

By: Rahul

Rahul — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:10:31 +0000

So, what is the perception of the election results in Malaysia? This article from the Economist seems to indicate that while the ruling party didn't sweep the polls, it still did reasonably well by absolute standards. It also seems like Samy Vellu lost, which would probably be good news for Hindraf and DAP. But is the loss large enough for things to change substantially for the ethnic minorities?