Indian Malaysians have to admit that they let themselves down by accepting few changes here and there that never materialised into anything tangible. The Indian community should not be bogged down with issues like Tamil schools and temples.

Our commitment for demanding change should go beyond Tamil schools and the temples. Both these institutions are culturally important and dear to us. Their growth must be nurtured. However, these two institutions alone are not going to uplift us from the present slump we are in.

Don’t be satisfied with the fact that Thaipusam is now a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur. How is this going to make a difference in our children’s future in Malaysia? How is it going to make us equal in citizenship rights?

Indians must seek a permanent solution beyond election cycles. The Indians should not be content with few scraps and bones thrown at them. Indians should put their effort and energy into demanding greater economic and political say. The way to achieve this is by asking the government to either do more or get out of the way.

Indians should not rely on the MIC. They should marginalise the MIC and put their voting power outside of the Barisan Nasional. Their faith in the MIC leadership president has let them down as a community. Indians of past generations traded in stability for inequality. The Indians ‘welcomed’ inequality in order to have harmony. No Indian Malaysian can deny that each succeeding generation of Indians has had less opportunity in Malaysia.

Somehow, Indians believed that without the Barisan Nasional, they would suffer the wrath of the Malays. Indians must be aware of their voting power but only if they all vote. Without our vote, the Barisan Nasional cannot win in many places or get a solid majority.

In a free and fair election, the people will be empowered with knowledge. In and unfair election, the people will be reminded of May 13. It is not a fair election if the opposition is not given equal access to the mainstream media.

All the major newspapers do not cover the opposition’s point of view or publish news about them without any censorship. Most of these newspapers have been pandering to the Barisan Nasional to the extent that the print media has lost all credibility. And how much time is given on television and radio to the opposition parties?