The launch of the Young Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (YICCI) in Kuala Lumpur turned into a BN-bashing session over the ruling coalition's alleged failure to engage with NGOs "over the past 50 years".

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YICCI patron AP Raja Retinam ( left ) said today that many memoranda on this had been sent to the Prime Minister's Department over the years.

"The worst part is that they would send an office boy to collect the memorandum. Even worse, at times, it is the security guard who collects it," said Raja Retinam, the founder president of the Malaysian Indian Youth Council (MIYC).

He praised Pakatan Rakyat for having engaged with NGOs in the four states that it administers.

"The tsunami in the last general election was created by NGOs. The 13 th general election will also be decided by NGOs. Pakatan had offered 20 percent of its seats to NGO leaders. Will BN allocate 20 percent?"

MIYC branches in the northern Pakatan states, he said, have given positive feedback in terms of engaging with government agencies.

However, he questioned the difference in allocation for NGOs, saying MIYC only receives RM30,000 annually when it requires RM5 million for its activities. A Malay NGO has been given RM500,000, he said.

He added that Indian Malaysians have been sidelined despite having been faithful to BN, and have not obtained a fair share of jobs in the civil service or contracts awarded.

‘Pakatan's failures'

Raja Retinam's claims were, however, dismissed by MIC Youth leader T Mohan who also spoke at the event.

"Pakatan needs to have good relations with Indian NGOs because MIC will not be in Pakatan," he said.

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Mohan ( right ) pointed out that Pakatan has failed to build even a single temple for Hindus following the demolition of a temple in Ampang .

"In contrast, the Maran temple in Pahang, which is under BN, is located on Malay reserve land."

He also raised the demolition of Kampung Buah Pala as another example of Pakatan's failure.

Mohan urged Indian NGOs to function as effective pressure groups so that "we can demand 10 percent of jobs from BN and Pakatan governments".

YICCI pro-tem chairperson Reghu Devan Lopez said the group will provide a platform for business networking and assist in the creation of a larger Indian business community.

Membership is open to Indians engaged in business and small trade, and who are between 15 and 40 years of age.