I refer to Malaysiakini’s report Hindraf playing into the government hands .

As the Chinese saying goes, at time of crisis there is opportunity. The huge demonstrations by the Hindu community on Nov 25 has given the present regime a golden opportunity to play the race card to shore up Malay support which seems to be waning lately. The divide-and-rule policy of the colonial masters has been used over and over again by the present government to retain power at each general election since independence 50 years ago. But they are playing with fire. Once the fire starts, it would be difficult to stop the flames from destroying the nation.

Malays are known to be united when their rights are being questioned by other parties. As the May 13 incident showed when push comes to shove, they will run amok if other races question their “birth right” as the bumiputera.

By demonstrating in public, Hindraf has given the beleaguered regime a golden opportunity to win back public support. Most people would rather have peace and harmony in this country than chaos on the streets. We can expect the mainstream media to highlight street demonstrations by Bersih and Hindraf to show that those who oppose unpopular government policies are being use by foreign agents or oppositions parties to wreak havoc on the streets and cause detriment to public safety and order.

In the 1986 polls, Tengku Razaleigh’s party Semangat 46 was routed out of the elections due to pictures of him wearing a Kadazan headgear depicting an alleged crucifix on it. But that was 20 ago when most voters were ignorant and did not have access to alternative media or the Internet.

It will be interesting to see whether educated voters with access to news on the Internet would still fall for the government’s propaganda or if they will kick out the corrupt incumbents at the next polls. Pak Lah needs to win big in the coming polls in order to retain his prime ministerial post. If he plays his cards right (by raising the Hindraf issues) people might forget his weakness and vote the incumbents at the next polls.

Hopefully both urban and rural voters can differentiate the forest from the trees and will understand those who demonstrate on the streets for better governance and transparency are forced to do it. The government has turned a deaf ear. The increase in prices of essential goods and services is a result of failed government policies.

Somehow one gets the feeling that the present regime is afraid of its own shadow. Arresting and charging demonstrators in court are ways of cowing the people not to go to the streets to air their grievances. But the jail terms and police beatings will only make people more defiant. At the dawn of the new year, don’t be surprise if there are more street demonstrations. People are basically fed up with our leaders’ empty promises and their lust for power and wealth.