opinion

The progressive resolution of the Indian question in Malaysia is both an ethnic and class one. Indians are subject to both ethnic and class exploitation of the worst kind.

Indians are not alone in this, Chinese and other non-Malay groups are facing varying forms of ethnic discrimination due to the hegemonic influence of the Malay state. Since the Malay hegemonic state only favours the rich and well-to-do Malays, the subaltern segments of the Malay ethnic community are forced to face the problem of economic and class discrimination.

Since all the ethnic groups face one or another form of discrimination by the capitalist system that have been instituted and strengthened by forces of globalisation, there is need to rethink the question of alternative political development, at least for the time being, without, of course, postponing the economic alternative in years to come.

In focusing on Indians, certain things have to be noted at the outset. The sad plight of the Indian community today is a result of historical and contemporary forces, the latter building on the former to deny Indians a decent political representation and a significant stake in the social and economic affairs of the country.

Token representation

It is the Malay hegemonic order sustained by Umno, and to a lesser extent, the political parties in the BN that act as the stumbling block to Indian progress. While the MIC has been criticised for not providing effective representation, a complete focus on the MIC will not tell us as to who is the main culprit behind Indian underdevelopment.

It is the Malay hegemonic state that has discriminated against Indians and other ethnic groups both in the political and economic sense. Unless this hegemonic state is dismantled and rejected, very little will accrue to Indians in the way of development benefits.

While it is right to criticise the MIC, a one-sided focus on the party will not yield clues for the progressive development of the Indian community in years to come. The MIC, like the MCA, Gerakan, PPP and IPF are parties that support the Malay hegemonic state.

Thus, these political parties, apart from providing for some kind of token representation, will never be able to articulate an alternative where Malays and non-Malays will live with one another on the basis of equality and fraternity.

The opposition coalition is probing into the question of effective and progressive representation for Malaysians but whether they can be able to transcend the narrow politics of ethnicity remains to be seen.

Amicable manner

The rejection of the Malay hegemonic state that is presently being zealously safeguarded by Umno by appealing to Malay unity must be rejected. There is no place for ethnic chauvinism for Malaysian politics in the future.

But rejection of the Malay hegemonic state must be counterbalanced by a honest attempt on the part of progressive groups to address the nationality aspirations of all Malaysians irrespective of their ethnic origins.

In this respect, the ethnic and cultural discrimination of non-Malays by the Umno-led government must be addressed in a amicable manner, without, of course, undermining certain accepted notions of Malaysian political reality such as the role of the Malay language.

It is important to remember that the present trajectory towards the evolution of progressive politics in Malaysia should not tantamount to 'throwing the baby out with the bath water'.

Thus, within the present Malay hegemonic order that is slowly losing its political significance as result of interplay of various forces from within and without, the MIC or any other pro-Barisan parties can do little to address the Indian question boldly, honestly and substantively.

While the MIC should be criticised for not doing anything worthwhile for the Indian community, too much expectation from the party can obscure our real focus. The social contract between Umno and non-Malay political parties that ensured Malay dominance, must be removed in its entirety.

The point is that the MIC, like the MCA, by entering into this social contract, hatched in the earlier years of political interdependence, are not in a position to do anything for their communities which presupposes the reject of this decadent social contract.

Affirmative action

A political opportunity has certainly arrived for Malaysians of Indian origin to seriously think of creating a new political alternative that will best safeguard their national interests without condoning the nature and manner of class exploitation.

Such a political alternative must be constituted within the larger constellation of forces that are beginning to question the nature of the present political representation. Indians can either create a political party or political movement, but whatever is the case, such a move must be integrated within the larger framework of opposition politics in the country that seems to provide some indication of going beyond the mundane framework of the present ruling coalition.

Needless to say, opposition politicians that are seriously contemplating providing the much need political alternative must address the question of Indian representation in a forthright and bold manner.

Indians should not be treated in numerical terms as indicated in some recent by-elections, but as a national group with its own identity and culture. It will augur well for the Opposition if Indian demands for the compulsory teaching of the Tamil language in national schools right up to universities, the recognition of Tamil schools as national schools and others issues are given the recognition that they deserve.

Since Indians have been victimised by the nature of the development process in the country, future alternatives must recognise that Indians need some kind of affirmative action so as to provide a temporary lift for them to be on par with other races.

P RAMASAMY is a professor of political economy at the Political Science Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and has academic interests in Malaysian politics and labour. He has written quite extensively and is currently focusing on conflict management in Sri Lanka.