Indian Malaysians obviously need some MPs in the opposition to express 'the other view', especially on matters that affect the minority community.

Malaysian voters used to be very tolerant - those were the days! We had the Seenivasagam brothers, V David, V Veerappan, Karam Singh, P Patto and the like voted in from the opposition

parties, especially from the Chinese majority areas. Today our voters are very sensitive to safeguard the interests of their own race. It is very difficult for them to accept 'others' as their candidates. So much for the successful building of Malaysia!

Chinese Malaysians almost always ensure that there are enough opposition MPs from their race to voice out their views that keep those Chinese leaders in the Barisan Nasional in check. For the Malays, there are those in the opposition, especially from PAS, to keep the Umno leaders on their toes on matters that affect them.

As for the Indian Malaysians, being a minority community that does not have any constituency with a majority of its own, they rely heavily on the Barisan Nasional, principally through the MIC. No matter how well-intentioned the MIC leadership may be, it needs a balancing voice from the other side of the floor in the Parliament.

Actually there seems to be a silent strategy among the communities to ensure that the opposition brings up a problem and the leaders within the ruling party quietly achieve the necessary approvals. On their own, they may not be able to succeed that much. The main communities have understood this but Indian Malaysians are in a dilemma as most of them wish to be aligned with Barisan Nasional for obvious reasons.

Only the DAP seems to have some Indian Malaysian leaders who could successfully gain the respect of others. Unfortunately, they are generally unable to address the issues of the Malaysian Indian community in depth, most probably due to their orientation within the party.

Personally, I yearn for the day that my local MP - no matter what his racial origin is - is able to articulate the issues affecting all the constituents, including those of a cultural/religious nature involving the minorities. Through his words and actions he will endear himself to all the members of the community. Am I dreaming of a Utopia?