Comments on: Thaipusam Boycott at Batu Caves

By: young malaysian

young malaysian — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 05:14:37 +0000

its really sad that indians are so forgetfull…its nt the 1st time mic has turned their backs on us bt it has been happening since a v.long time ago…but we indians r still casting ur votes 4 bn n not giving chance 2 d opposition..we have to b united as malaysians or else matilah we all..

By: Paul Warren

Paul Warren — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:35:35 +0000

Hi IslandMiss,

Fist time at your site..I had to Google “Thaipusam Batu Caves” to get at your site and you have done an excellent job staying 12 hours out of sync with Malaysian time!

Couple of things that need to be highlighted and which you have pointed out. “300-500 Thousand Absent From Thaipusam at Batu Caves” should be headlined and screamed out. But this significant number literally participating in civil disobedience of sorts has been missed out by MSM as well as the popular bloggers. When I spoke to one political blogger he reminded me thta the last time civil disobedience of this type happened was in 1946. well, I am not bothered about 1946, I am concerned about contemporary times. Indeed since independence! Nothing matches this.

I have been promoting the idea that Malaysian Indians are the only ones in the Indian diaspora who are politically represented anywhere in the world. Uniquely we are also the only ones who are faring the worst in our economic setting. Everywhere else from Europe to the Gulf, from America to Africa and the Pacific Indians do well for themselves economically and in many of these territories we dominate commerce and industry too. We also are King makers in some of these countries…and of course we also probably go overboard a bit like in Uganda which probably caused Idi Amin to sack us all out of there. Of course the country went to the dogs after that.

Just like the Batu Caves boycott I would like to see inculcated in the minds of the Malaysian Indians’ that we can do it on our own. Political representation is what stymies our inherent and God given talent, skills and power. Let it be known to the politicians that we are expandable and shall on our own decide who gets our votes but we shall not bother about getting involved in politics. We don’t need representation only to be told by our representatives to wait on them..like forever!!

The Malaysian Indian condition today is directly a result of this waiting on our politicians to deliver. Stripped off of our representatives we should know for ourselves that our lives are for us to direct and for us to live for and live up to.

I have written a little analysis that might be worth a read, except maybe I don’t write as well as your missive here.

In the mean time keep it flowing!

Dear Old Codger.

Fancy seeing you here. I do still remember reading your post, The Malaysian Indian Drama , sometime around Nov 25th and I found your analysis and personal comments insightful.

Yes, the Indian diaspora have not done to as well as our compatriots. But apart from our politicians (who have frankly screwed us), I believe that the main reason for our under achivement is that the playing field has never been level for us. We lost out in the NEP from the UMNO’s Ketuanan Melayu’s idealogy and other equally racist policies that denied us educational opportunities, that virtually stripped all Indians civil servants and placed more restrictions on entry into the professions (especially law and medicine).

I am opposed to race based political parties. I think this is what got our country into the mess that we are in. The British taught well – divide and rule. And the BN in their power hungry bid to personally enriching themselves, learnt well. If Indians loose their political representation, I don’t think it will be any significant lost – purely for the fact that we have not gained anything from our supposed ‘representation’ in a supposed ‘power-sharing’ government. I would like to see Indians take roles in Opposition parties, not as Indians, but as Malaysians.

I see no help from the present GoMen in the foreseeable future. We are on our own as always. The only difference for Indians is that the majority of us have come to a point where we are now are politically shaken enough to be aware that we do not need to sanction a GoMean that has marginalised us for 50 years.

By: mr sad

mr sad — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:48:42 +0000

i think samy velu stupid and don know to run show. what he do only take indian people money from mic and put his pocket. what hindraf good if not samy only makan tidur ( eat and sleep nothing he will do to indian and he no shy very thick skin if i am prime minister i will sack him and badawi act bodoh

By: aarvidi

aarvidi — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:48:16 +0000

Hello IslandMiss,
I had the same problem on Thaipusam day. I can’t go to Batu Caves as it is far away, and therefore my source of information was Malaysiakini and bloggers. My first posting at 12 in the afternoon was based on Anil Netto. As Poobalan said, once in the field our Indian bloggers are restricted by not having the mobile technology. I agree with him. I am willing to do the in-between type of thing as I blog from the house. Meaning, getting news over the phone and posting the latest. Poobalan has been long in this area and I believe he knows better. My blogs carry Tamil sentiments and till today no one has ticked me off. I don’t think it will be lower priority as I am sure our ‘makkal’ once in a way will appreciate Tamil being quoted and feel we are in it together.

By: Poobalan

Poobalan — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:38:37 +0000

Hi IslandMiss, thanks for highlighting my article.

I like to say that news about the Indian community does not enter the net as fast as it should due to several reason:

1. If we are involved in our own programs, it is hard to write report and upload photos. Like in my case, i was on the field (so to speak) from 6am till 3pm, and had a function in the evening. Well, I took a short nap since was damn tired. Hope to be more fast in the future.

2. We lack finance to invest in better gadgets and technology like 3G, hi-res digicams, lightweight laptops, PDAs etc. That makes us less mobile-connected.

3. Other communities may not find it interesting/worthwhile enough to write about indians. It will be a bit lower on the priority.

4. We don’t have professional bloggers like JeffOoi I guess. Most (maybe all?) Indian bloggers do it on a part-time/hobby/interest basis.