YOURSAY 'I would say, let us help ourselves to the offerings of promises by DAP and hope that they will serve us a satisfying ‘dish'.'

DAP unveils 14-point plan for Indians

your say Gerard Lourdesamy: Can PM Najib Razak and Umno-BN match this DAP's 14-point plan for Indians? I agreed that the Pakatan Rakyat should have announced this much earlier but at least they finally have done something to allay Indian concerns.

The Indians, like all other marginalised communities in Malaysia including the Malays, Ibans and Kadazans, should not expect heaven and earth.

A need-based policy as advocated by Pakatan will benefit these groups the most, unlike Umno-BN's elitist driven policies that are predicated on helping their cronies first and the rakyat second.

Hindraf must be pragmatic as well. There are other communities who have fared worse, for example the Orang Asal and the natives in East Malaysia. The Umno-BN agenda is always to look at a short-term solution while treating the Indians as insignificant outcasts.

Pakatan may be slow and disjointed in their response to Indian issues but at least they propose a holistic approach that merits consideration. While Pakatan may not be perfect, it is nevertheless the lesser evil compared to Umno-BN.

Apolitical Observer: This Gelang Patah Declaration is to hoodwink the Indians for their votes. Most the plan, if not all, could have been implemented at the state level, especially in Selangor where the percentage of DEW (displaced estate workers) are the highest, and this has contributed to the high proportion of poor unemployed Indians and Indians involvement in petty crimes.

Why nothing from the plan was implemented in Selangor? Not all in the plan are federal government-based. Except for education, all other plans could have been implemented by the Selangor via PKNS (Selangor State Development Corporation), etc.

The truth is Pakatan does not bother about Indians welfare. They only want their votes.

Don't expect the Indians to trust this kind of fake promises. The declaration looks like a carbon copy of Hindraf blueprint, so why can't Pakatan just endorse it?

Jiminy Qrikert: It seems Hindraf supporters are unhappy with this 14-point plan from DAP. They say it is a rip-off from their blueprint.

Hindraf supporters, actually you need to register two current developments that checkmate the movement in this political game:

1) Hindraf has already sent out SMSes to Indians to boycott PKR/DAP ceramahs and GE13, effectively taking an anti-Pakatan stand, so anything you do now to get back into the good books of Pakatan makes you all look like fools.

The only way out is to support BN. But BN does not need you as they already bought Indian support from those of below RM1,500 household income.

2) Pakatan will not sign your blueprint, and BN will not sign your blueprint. P Waythamoorthy has given up his hunger strike with zero impact in terms of galvanising Indian support for the Hindraf cause.

Tholu: What is wrong with us, the Indians? We complain that BN and Pakatan are not paying attention to Hindraf's blueprint. But when DAP announces policies to uplift the Indians, we ridicule it.

Now, should we wait for God himself to descend upon earth and promise a better future for Indians in this country? Let us not forget the cliché, "God will only help those who help themselves first."

I would say, let us help ourselves to the offerings of promises by DAP and hope that they will serve us a satisfying ‘dish'.

Progressive: This ‘Gelang Patah Declaration' should be more than enough for the Indian voters. LKS (Lim Kit Siang) is a trusted leader, a true Malaysian.

We appreciate Hindraf's effort in highlighting and fighting for the Indian cause. But Hindraf speaks as if all the Indian votes are locked in a safe deposit box that can only opened by a key held by Hindraf. Nothing can be further from the truth.

The majority of Indian Malaysians are going to vote for change and hold Pakatan to its words.

Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum: The DAP 14-point declaration is clearly committal but lacking in statistical specifics as stipulated in the Hindraf blueprint.

It is paving the way for a transition to non-race-based policies. I urge all Indians to remain cautiously optimistic, especially since this plan is conjured so close to ensuing general elections.

Anonymous #10786680: The Gelang Patah Declaration is a needed short-term but practical move. The Pakatan platform for addressing poverty for all Malaysians is the proper and only long-term solution for the future to enable all the races in Malaysia to have a sense of belonging to Malaysia.

However, it must be acknowledged that the Indians in Peninsular Malaysia plus other smaller groups e.g. the Ibans, the Penans in Sarawak, the poor in Sabah, have been left too far behind because of the failed NEP (New Economic Policy).

So the Gelang Patah Declaration serves the purpose of helping the Indian community to catch up through improved schools infrastructure, more business opportunities, etc. This should take place at the same time as the master plan for the eradication of poverty is carried out for all races.

Similar declarations for the poor in Sarawak and Sabah are needed. This is affirmative action of the right type, not the NEP of the past.

Anonymous$&@?: Missing the ministership and 10 percent contracts - I sure Hindraf will not agreed. Hope I am wrong, but we shall see.

SS Dhaliwal: Yes, the Hindraf blueprint is designed to unreasonable so that anything short of acceptance can be used as an excuse to sabotage Pakatan.

When it is partially accepted then Pakatan is accused as being insincere. Pakatan, do not worry as there is no appeasing the opportunistic Hindraf, they have already been bought over by BN.

Onyourtoes: Soon enough, the sidekicks from Hindraf will come out in full force to rile this 14-point plan. In many ways, we are all the products of more than five decades of racial politics.

Every single problem we see today is due to racial discrimination and marginalisation and every solution we ever propose must be based on race.

But it is governance, mega corruption and rampant abuse of power, stupid.

There will never be enough to go around if the ruling elites have methodically taken the lion share of nation's wealth and income. It will never be enough if the nation's resources, including our human capital, were never allowed to work efficiently and competently.

Watch my lips, the Indians are now shouting for more (and rightly so), but soon the Malays will be shouting even louder because their number has increased and the waiting lists for goodies have become even longer.

Soon there will be nothing to distribute because the golden goose is dead. We are steadily and monotonically working toward a system where the majority is complaining about marginalisation and lack of opportunity.

We are fast building up a society where the majority wants to enjoy privileges and good life without working for it. Hello, which nincompoops would want to work in a society like this?

Retnam: Pakatan may win, it may lose. But either way it will not be because of Hindraf's support or abstention. Hindraf likes to live in vainglory. Sadly, that is the only thing Hindraf has now.

ADJ: To a certain extent, this is a good plan. However, it seems to be a bit reactionary. How about other races which also deserve a "plan"?

I dread to see a situation where political parties start creating plans for each ethnic group, whether in the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, then we would probably go back to square one.

Anyway, I am keeping an open mind here and hope for the best.

Jean Pierre: A plan, a manifesto, a blueprint, whatever you call it, if Hindraf was looking for this to come out of the horse's mouth, they have got it (though coming from Pakatan as a unit would carry more legitimacy).

This is more than anything BN would offer the community in their wildest dreams. Hindraf should remain a pressure group to ensure it is carried out when Pakatan comes to power.

I do believe Hindraf deserves some credit in this. Now would Waytha do the right thing and reciprocate?

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