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I refer to the Malaysiakini report Hindraf declares war ... of roses .

I read with interest Hindraf's plan to present roses to the prime minister. How sweet. Really. I mean, where else in the world has there been a plan for 10,000 people to give flowers to their prime minister on Valentine's Day?

Okay, they plan to give the roses two days after Valentine's Day. I guess roses would be cheaper then. No, wait! Perhaps Hindraf is sparing a thought for all the florists out there who have access stock unsold after Valentine's Day, and wants to give their business a shot in the arm. How thoughtful. Perhaps there is a plan to source the flowers only from Hindu florists. I wouldn't put such a directive past Hindraf.

One lone Singaporean has gone on a hunger strike for five days. Why? What's wrong in Singapore? Oh, nothing. A sign of solidarity with his Indian Malaysian brothers, he says. There's also talk of Malaysians emulating this 'Mahatma' across the Tebrau Straits, and starting their own hunger strike. I read in some blogs that the infamous 'Hindraf Five' (no relation to Enid Blyton's Famous Five) plan to launch a hunger strike in Kamunting. How timely. I mean, you just have to hand it to them. At a time when the country faces an apparent shortage of cooking oil, and perhaps flour, such a kind act from Hindraf to lower consumption.

Of course, all these don't match the headline grabbing, outdoor advertisement stunt of the Nov 25 gathering, where several thousand Hindraf supporters gathered outside the British High Commission to petition Her Majesty, the Queen of England, to appoint her counsel to sue her government. They didn't actually submit the petition of course. Perhaps they were upset Her Majesty did not show up, as some short mobile messages making the rounds had otherwise suggested. So they decided to go to Buckingham Palace, submit the petition in person, and have tea and scones with Her Majesty.

Life is not a bed of roses for Indian Malaysian (sorry, I just can't get over the rosy idea). I'm not disputing that. There definitely are problems that need to be looked at. Perhaps a policy overhaul after 50 years of independence. Hindraf was plain lucky to come at the right place, at the right time, found the right issues, and milked it like there was no tomorrow. But let's give Hindraf credit where it's due. There is a sense of awakening among Indian Malaysians.

But that said, the ability to mobilise slogan-shouting, placard-holding crowds, with a newfound sense of ethnic patriotism and sensational spirit is about all Hindraf can achieve.

The government will not deal with Hindraf. That much is clear. The MIC is the official and only true representative of the Indian community in the Barisan National government. Strangely, there are some Indians who only yesterday pledged heart and soul to the MIC, who seem to now view just about everything from the MIC with suspicion, scorn and hatred. Amazing. Dramatic even. But then again, drama has never been too far from the Indian community now, has it?

What the MIC has been doing behind closed doors for 50 years, Hindraf did out in the streets. Nothing more. The difference is, while the latter is now publicly seen 'championing' issues close to the heart of Indians, what the MIC did - or to be honest, perhaps did not - achieve behind those closed doors, is forgotten. A public relations coup. A fantastic advertising gimmick. But the problem is, this isn't retail. This is a community we're talking about. A minority community, in a multi-ethnic nation that knows only too well the risk of any one community exceeding the invisible, but very real boundaries.

Indians need to view these recent developments with maturity. The path Hindraf chose, while creating a short-term burst of attention, is really a collection of extremely unreasonable and unrealistic demands. Demands that will never see the light of day in Malaysia.

The more reasonable choice would be to support the middle-ground NGOs which met the prime minister recently, and the MIC which, like it or not, is the only channel the government will ever choose to implement any policy it might formulate for the Indian community. I know for a fact the MIC, on its part, has perked up and taken notice of the ground sentiments. I believe the leaders are serious about addressing issues.

I know, I know, there's always the usual rebuke as to what the MIC has been doing for the last 50 years. Well, I'm not saying the MIC has a perfect record. But what I do know, is that they are the best bet for the Indian community. Instead of condemning them and working against them, work with the MIC. Indian professionals need to take that somewhat reluctant step to join the MIC and bring change from within.

Positive change for a community in desperate need of change. Through diplomacy, not drama. Through negotiation, not noise. With reason, not roses.

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