I refer to the Malaysiakini report MIC leader shot dead in Johor.

Acts of violence to settle disputes are uncivilised and barbaric and must be strongly condemned by all in and outside the government. There can be no justification for anyone to take the law into their hands for whatever reason. The police and other law enforcement agencies must come hard on such people or parties regardless of who they may be.

Having said that, it is pertinent to ask what is happening to the MIC, the sole component in the Barisan National (BN) coalition representing the Indians? Are these death threats and assassinations politically motivated? We would like to think otherwise, but going by the events that are unfolding in the last couple of months, it may drive one to think it may be so.

The MIC leadership and S Samy Vellu, who has been at the helm of the party for over 25 years, have serious problems at hand. They must come out of their state of denial and face the realities on the ground. The Indian community is beginning to lose confidence in the very party that was in their blood for over 50 years.

Why is this so? The main reason is that the party leadership over the years has taken the people's trust for granted and given in to arrogance. They had successfully eliminated dissenting voices so much so the supreme leader has become surrounded by those just out to please him thereby resulting in him losing touch with the grassroots.

The Indian community, being small as it is, cannot afford to be divided. It has to be represented by just one party which has been the MIC. There is no reason why this cannot continue. What is needed is change within the party to make it relevant to the Indians once more. Whether the Indians like it or not they have to accept this fact and ensure that the MIC works well in protecting their rights and promoting their interests. If they find it is failing them, then they must strive for change within the party.

At the same time, the leadership must be more open to dissenting voices and not stifle them. They should be more receptive to change for the betterment of the community as a whole. Healthy dialogue and debate should be encouraged while talented and capable younger leaders be allowed to rise up the ladder of hierarchy without favouritism or prejudice but based on real merit.

Nepotism, an evil that brings self-destruction, must never be allowed to take roots in the party for whatever reason. The party is for all Indians not for an exclusive few.

The Indian community must wake up from their slumber to face the hard realities of life especially in a multi-racial and multi-religious country like Malaysia. Regardless of their religion or clan, they must unite not only to defend their rights but also to improve their socio-economic status as well.

Unless they strive to rise up socially and economically, they cannot expect to gain the respect of others. To earn the respect of others, they need to restore their dignity. For this, change must come from within them - not forced onto them from the outside.