The Indian Development Blueprint is in the making now.
I was one of the invitees in the panel discussion for this agenda.
A blueprint is a plan. In this context, it is a plan/target/guideline for the development of Indian Malaysian. YBhg Thasleem Mohd Ibrahim questioned the panel members on the whereabouts of his and the late K Pathmanaban’s blueprints. I wonder the same. What happened to them? Have we achieved our target? I have never seen one, have we been propelling without a direction all this while, if not, where is it?
MIC could have launched a site for all Indians to contribute their ideas and suggestions just like what was done by Najib Abdul Razak before presenting Budget 2017. It would have given every Indian Malaysian a fair chance of voicing out their opinion , even those Indian Malaysians who are residing overseas at the moment. It wasn’t implemented and the invitation to the panel discussion was only sent to about 100 plus people from various NGOs and agencies.
We have so many productive young bloods who are eager to tell you how things can be sorted for betterment and yet, there is no platform for them.
The panellists did not discuss any specific topic or debate on suggestions that came in from participants; they only presented on their achievements. No presentation on their vision planning for National Transformation 50 (TN50) or at least another 10 years in line. They also did not discuss the setbacks that they have faced and how they are planning to prevent it in future. Isn’t that a crucial component to analyse before renewing a blueprint?
Upon arriving, we were told that the framework has been done and they are looking for additional inputs - I lost my enthusiasm. If it has been drafted, why wasn’t it shared via email to all the invitees, we could have had a very productive discussion that afternoon. We would be aware of your plans and areas that needs improvisation. Wouldn’t that also promote transparency? I felt wasted.
We have written many articles on areas to look into for Tamil schools and Indian development;
Tamil school development
Bahasa Malaysia; Changing threat into treat for SJKT
Hindu NGO proposes “MRSM like” Tamil schools
Tamil schools; your contribution counts
Where are we heading with Tamil schools?
Indian development
Budget 2017; Checklist for MIC
Indians in your manifesto for GE14
Indians need new economic policy to be independent
Wake up call for Indians in the government sector
Additional TV channel in RTM solely for Malaysian Indians
4 mil Malaysian Indians by 2025
Power to make changes in the wrong hands
These are articles that we have written in 2016 alone and we have addressed countless issues in our articles. There are suggestions in each article although the title might not sound relevant to the blueprint. We have written many more, but those are directed to PM himself in improving on his administration, thus are not included here.
Read and grab my points, its impossible to let you know all these within an hour of open discussion slot at your blueprint meeting. That is why a ‘suggestion site’ is important.
Among all the articles that we wrote, I would like to specially highlight on the first article ‘Need for an Indian agenda’ - this is a compulsory component if you are serious about increasing the Indian equity by 2020 - or even 2025 now.
The establishment of a Malaysian Indian Investment Holdings ( MIIH ). We submitted the proposal to the then-minister in the PM’s Department during one of our events in the Royal Selangor Club and there has been no feedback till now. It has to co-exist together with SEED and SEDIC to ensure a balanced growth.
We don’t wish to claim ownership, we want this to be executed and serve the poor and needy. Grab the framework and work on it. The only thing that we demand is transparency, whatever you do, publish and keep us in the loop.
The PM in his speech at MIC’s recent AGM mentioned that there is “pushback” from the Indian community in almost any plans that he tries to carry out for us. Isn’t surprising? When we have so many people voicing out their dissatisfaction over insufficient aid and attention from government, how can there be a “pushback” from the community towards government initiatives? Something is wrong in between.
YB Dr S Subramaniam, you must take full responsibility and step down from your health minister position temporarily for at least six months to sort things out in MIC; completion and approval of blueprint from PM and fixing the pushback. How long are we going to just talk and fight for Tamil schools, temples, and now, crematorium sites in AGM, blueprint discussion, etc?
Fifty-nine years is not sufficient to sort out basic matters yet? MIC must create a platform to engage our people with top leaders in the government like Ali Hamsa and Irwan Serigar Abdullah. 1MINE held an event with Irwan last year pertaining the future of the ringgit in this country and participants were pleased with his very friendly gesture and willingness to help Indian Malaysians in business.
YB Subra, prove your commitment to our community and take the effort to keep MIC relevant. We are tired of just talk of blueprint but not being able to witness anything related to it; launch the site and let us know what is being planned and can be expected from your end.
We are tired of repeated empty promises.
S GOPINATH is president of the Malaysian Indian Network of Entrepreneurs Association (1MINE).
