In the recent Malaysian version of the 'Crimean War', MIC's rising star S Sothinathan was suddenly singled out for punishment over breach of Barisan Nasional (BN) discipline.

The dramatic episode on June 22 resulted in strong reverberations among Indian Malaysians, as he was suspended for three months from his cabinet post as deputy minister for natural resources and environment.

The controversy reflects the societal and education dilemma of this community. As the Indian political leadership can do little to improve the situation, they are increasingly adopting a populist approach to redirect the disgruntled Indian community.