I refer to the Malaysiakini report Dr Subra: March 8 an awakening .

As a politician he knows how to be evasive when asked an uncomfortable question like why was not the MIC given the Works Ministry. The fact of the matter is that the MIC did try very hard to retain this ministry but failed to do so.

Umno has been wanting to wrestle the portfolio from the MIC for a long time. Of course, many in Umno fail to understand that the works ministry is better off in the hands of a non-Umno minister so the Umnoputras can shamelessly demand and get government contracts without raising any eyebrows.

Nevertheless Dr S Subramaniam comes out in the interview as an intelligent and dignified bearer of public office. The good doctor is going to have his hands full. In all fairness, it must be said that his predecessor in the cabinet, S Samy Vellu, was probably the most hardworking cabinet minister.

How he managed with so little sleep and a frugal diet is a wonder. He was also probably the only minister who personally answered phone calls from the rakyat . The fact that Samy Vellu totally misread the people’s sentiments (probably aided and abetted by his staff of various secretaries) contributed to his downfall.

The thousands of Indians helped by him to get contracts, loans, scholarships and medical benefits did not count finally. He was like a zamindar (land owner/chieftain) who dished out goodies on an ad-hoc basis truly believing that he was doing the right thing. Indeed, many Indians did benefit from his largesse and in a way, it is pitiful to see them going for his jugular now.

So, Dr Subramaniam, I do have a few tips for you;

1. Emulate your predecessor in being a hardworking, disciplined minister. You don’t have to sleep only five hours a day like Samy Vellu does and yes, you may continue being a vegetarian .

2. You don’t have to inherit any personal staff of your predecessor. It is better for you to bring in your own team if you are concerned about your image.

3. Do not behave like a zamindar dishing out goodies. Those who get the goodies will end up being ungrateful and those who do not not get them will end up being your enemies. Instead, conceptualise your vision to help poor Indians into a policy and demand that the government act on it.

4. Do not be seen to be subservient member of the ruling coalition. Demand that MIC be treated as an equal component of the ruling coalition failing which you should consider pulling out of BN.

The MIC maintained the status quo by feeding on the fear that without adequate Indian representation in the administration, the community’s needs would not be met. It may have been true in the past but not any longer.

The 2008 general election has showed that the rakyat has matured and voted across racial lines. The only ones who seem obsessed with race seem to be the politicians. However, the MIC need not be written off. It has a golden opportunity revamp itself into a dynamic party that is sensitive to the needs of the poor and downtrodden Indians.

Eventually it is hoped that MIC, along with its friends in the BN will form a single multiracial party a la PKR. Only then can we have a truly credible two-party system that would be the envy of any plural society. Someone did say that politics is far too important to be left in the hands of politicians!