YOURSAY 'If Pakatan in power is just as bad as Umno, then Hindraf could rethink its strategy. But if Umno remains in power, nothing will change.'

Hindraf issues challenge to BN and Pakatan

Samba: Pakatan Rakyat seems not to have the 'political DNA', as Hindraf adviser N Ganesan puts it. They only seem to want the votes of the Indian poor but do not seem to have the will or capability to address their very real problems.

Otherwise, they should engage with Hindraf as its 18-point demand is really all about the symptoms and root causes of the Indian marginalisation problem.

Kgen: In its 18-point memorandum, Hindraf demands RM100 billion for Indian affirmative programme.

They also demand RM150 billion for Hindu temples demolished so far. A demand of RM100 billion for Tamil schools appear to have been quietly dropped but I'm sure was in their original version.

What makes Hindraf any better than Perkasa? Indian extremism is as bad as Malay extremism. This is a multiracial society and we should be talking about uplifting the poor of all races, not just one race.

Brutus: Ganesan, why are you so racist and when did you become one? You were one time the managing director of a multinational company, and during that time you were never pro-Indian.

During your university days you were with Parti Rakyat Malaysia, a known socialist party. After that you became a capitalist and made a lot of money. You have a big bungalow, children all educated, and only now you are worried about Indians.

You are always gloating over how you manage to get 30,000 or so Indians in the streets in 2007.

Let me tell you that the poor Indians turn up because you promised them a million pounds each which you're claiming from the British. What has happened to that claim?

Fairnessforall: Hindraf has not made overtures; it has only made demands thinking they are big. They should stop being so arrogant as they do not have the support of many Indians who have now realise that Hindraf is a one-man's agenda.

I don't see any reason for Pakatan to give in to their demands. It is Hindraf who should just work with Pakatan and throw their support behind Pakatan and when Pakatan wins the GE13, then it can make demands which are reasonable and acceptable, and not ridiculous demands when Indians are just a minority.

After all, it's only for one term and if Pakatan does nothing, we can always kick them out instead.

By the way, I am an Indian and I do not support Hindraf.

Samba: When was the last time that Pakatan has attempted to talk to Hindraf? Can someone of position in Pakatan please respond.

I know Hindraf has made many overtures to Pakatan. Has Pakatan responded and if so what was their response?

Ferdtan: Choice means you have to choose one which seems better than the other - though it may not be perfect.

The leaders who head Hindraf are so indecisive whether to support either BN or Pakatan, that it is to their own peril by not associating with either.

With their wishy-washy way, they are in danger of being left out of mainstream politics completely.

By their own admission, Indians do not form a majority in any single constituency and thus it's impossible to gain true representation for their socio-economic interests.

But they still show arrogance in going their way. Politics is the art of compromise to get the best for our cause.

However, the strength of the Hindraf has eroded so much with their harping on racist issues that it turns off many educated Indians.

Of all people, Ganesan quoted Helen Ang on the Chinese and Malay elites. He equalled BN and Pakatan (read DAP) with the Malay and Chinese elites respectively.

And he insultingly deemed the Malays in Pakatan as small group of disgruntled Malay elites.

Retnam: Post-2007 rally, Hindraf emerged as a very strong and influential organisation. Unfortunately, they did not know exactly what they wanted.

They squandered the huge mandate they got. Now they still do not know what they want.

I have a great deal of respect for their guts. But without clear-cut direction, they cannot command the support of any thinking person.

Sorry, Hindraf. No more hope for you, unless you come out with a clear-cut position.

Hasim Ali: Yes, Hindraf stands for Hindu but the name does not matter, it is what they stand for that matters.

According to Hindraf, they were originally formed to find redress for conversion issues and the people involved were Hindus.

Later, its scope expanded and a name change was not suitable because Hindraf had already become a well-known brand. Just like Umno is an English acronym, which can't be changed to a Malay acronym as that's how they are known.

Folks, don't pick on Hindraf's name. After all, what's in a label? Hentam (hit) them on their causes and what they stand for.

Pemerhati: In its 18-point demands, Hindraf is mainly asking for an end to the apartheid system which the Umno-controlled government practices in order to get the support from the majority Malays.

PKR's leader Anwar Ibrahim, a former long-time Umno member who implemented and practiced these apartheid-like policies, may now be willing to tinker with some of those policies and make them slightly less discriminatory.

But he and the other former Umno members, who are now the top leaders in PKR, would not now dare to announce that they are willing to forego all the discriminatory policies for fear of losing the support of the majority Malays who are already addicted to the special privileges.

In view of this reality, the best strategy for Hindraf would be to fully support Pakatan and help it to form the next government and then make the necessary demands.

If Pakatan in power is just as bad as Umno, then Hindraf could rethink its strategy. But if Umno remains in power, nothing will change.

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