Hindraf’s demands have now crystallised into more objective and substantive matters which PAS has been signaling in the aftermath of Hindraf’s gathering. It is now clear that the Indian community’s problems was not imaginary but a true depiction of the failure of BN’s policy for national unity. This was the conclusion of the Malaysian Hindu Sangam at the meeting with the prime minister last Friday.

The government must not face problems with an iron fist. The Malaysian Hindu Sangam called the government to reconsider the ISA detention of the five Hindraf leaders. PAS is very concerned about the plight of Indians and the other races in this country.

Nevertheless, pivotal issues must be taken into consideration. PAS would like to highlight these issues:

1. The setting up of a non-Muslim affairs committee in the Prime Minister’s Department as proposed by the Indian NGOs came in light of the issue of temple demolitions. Although the issues have sensitive bearings on the right to have places of worship, the real issues are of its legality, the misbehaviour of the enforcement officers and compensations from the developer or the government.

2. The non-Muslim affairs committee is also needed to settle legal issues of the conversion of either spouse to Islam as to whether it infringes on the custodian and the child’s religious status. All parties must respect that this is a matter of syariah law. Syariah law experts must be involved in solving these matters. PAS does not accept demands to do away the syariah law system in this country.

3. At the meeting, Hindu Sangam also highlighted the need to recruit more Indians in the civil service. PAS would like to stress that BN’s civil service policy not only excludes Indians but also Malays based on their political inclinations. It has been an unwritten rule that those working in the public service is recognised through political affiliations rather than merit. Some Malays have been deprived of climbing the career ladder due to their inclination towards opposition parties. PAS is not surprised that the problem is worse for the smaller Indian community. This is attributed to the political patronage in the civil service practiced by the BN government.

4. PAS calls on Malaysians to make a crucial decision in the coming elections by voting the Barisan Alernatif to end BN’s failed national unity policies. BA and PAS proposes a better deal in confronting racial dissatisfaction by re-examining national unity policies that also guarantee freedom of faith with Islam as the official religion as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

If the government agrees to establish the non-Muslim affairs commission, it may cool off the heat in the aftermath of the Hindraf problem but it will not solve the real problems. The current system does not permit any means to address the failure of BN’s policies. It is only by getting out of the system can we make way for a new awakening for our future generations through BA.

The writer is chairman for national unity for PAS.