On April 21, Kuala Lumpur City Hall demolished a century-old Hindu temple, the Malaimel Sri Selva Kaliamman Hindu Temple in Kuala Lumpur. The bulldozers tore down the temple even as the faithful devotees who were praying there cried and begged them to stop. I don't remember reading about this in the mainstream media. Neither did I hear a single MIC person come out and say a word.

Then the Shah Alam City Council were supposed to demolish another century-old temple in Section 11, Shah Alam yesterday. At the time I write this, I understand the temple is still standing on a four-week repreive.

Is this the much-spoken Islam Hadhari at work? Is this the ground-breaking (pun intended) for the Ninth Malaysia Plan? Do the powers-that-are seriously think unity can be achieved with such a blatant display of intolerance against Malaysia's most discriminated race?

The Hindu Indians in this country have nothing left except for our temples and schools. Most of them are in bad shape anyway. The only thing the MIC seems to be interested in right now is its own elections. 'Who get's what post?', 'Will the president's men prevail?', 'Will there be an upset?'

Wake up MIC, wake up! I ask nothing more of you than what you claim to be. The sole voice of the Indian community. While you leaders breast-beat in public and claim one-upmanship over your internal rivals, you are seldom around to defend the community you represent. Or so it seems to me at least.

I don't really care who has mistresses and where he built bungalows for them. But when the core issues of the community are not addressed and the Indian community has to beg the opposition, other backbenchers, etc, to defend their often trampled upon rights, something is really wrong.

No MIC leader said anything when the Parliament jester from Jerai referred to Indians as 'keling'. Nope. The MIC might, but the Indians won't forget that one. We won't forgive either.