In the New Straits Times on Feb 28, there was this story reported. Thosinameri, 12 years old, suffered massive burns all over her face and body when a fire razed her home when she was just a month old. Her parents abandoned her and she was brought up by her aunt who earns RM600 a month and RM450 from welfare.

The aunt also has to take care of her own five children and two nieces and her handicapped husband. The aunt now cannot even afford to pay the RM150 monthly rental for her low cost flat and is in arrears of eight months. She has been been given an eviction notice to vacate their flat.

An MIC minister promised to pay her eight-month rental arrears and medical bills for the girl. Yet another piecemeal answer and not a wholesome solution. This family’s case only got some attention and ‘promises’ as the minister was on his election rounds and campaigning. Umno and the private sector have neglected this young girl.

Racism yet again. The state and social welfare departments choose not to see this girl and thousands of other poor and underprivileged Indians even after 51 years of independence.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in that same newspaper asks: ‘Let me ask you, who can honestly say that the people from his or her community has been left out or failed to achieve any progress these past 50 years?’

Well, this is the clearest example (Thosinameri) reported in Umno’s very own newspaper. In the same newspaper, it is reported that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak grants an allocation RM1,000 with one stroke of open just for the upkeep of a few blocks of army housing quarters.

What ever happened to the Estate Workers Home Ownership Scheme introduced in 1971? Hardly any scheme was implemented for the Indians unlike the successful Felda, Felcra and other land and housing schemes which have benefited millions of the bumiputera in Malaysia.

And yet Abdullah has the cheek to imply that no community (including the Indians) has been left behind after 50 years of independence. How is Hindraf then not to tell the people not to vote for Umno?

Umno oppresses, marginalises and discriminates against Indian Malaysians; the MIC has no power in the Umno-controlled racist Malaysian government. MIC is merely a showcase piece for the illusion of the power-sharing concept.

For the first time in 51 years, the MIC took out advertisements in the local papers before the elections to try and justify their existence. MIC claims to have on a piecemeal basis (not on a holistic basis) paid for medical bills, bus fares, breakfasts, loans of RM3,000 per small trader amongst others.

But Indian students at the MIC-owned Aimst University pay fees like at any other university (some though may be given small subsidies and other ‘peanuts’ handout). MIC must concede that they have failed despite being a BN senior component member in the Umno-controlled Malaysian government.

They have failed to ensure that to ensure Indians got the same opportunities as provided for in Article 8 of the Federal Constitution (equality before the law) ie, making all Tamil schools fully-aided, equal public university places, scholarships, jobs in the civil service, business licenses etc.

Why haven’t the Indians been treated equally? Umno is the real culprit, not MIC.