ACCORDING to a popular Tamil newspaper columnist, about 40 per cent of Indians are still struggling below the poverty level, trying to make ends meet on a daily basis. Sadly, MIC, which claims to be the only Indian party to champion the socio-economic and political needs of the Indian community, is in a shambles.
MIC’s leadership tussle has taken a turn for the worse, and the situation is getting uglier by the day. It is only a matter of time before all hell breaks loose, especially if the two leaders and their respective factions continue to be stubborn and adamant.
The Indian community is suffering from various disadvantages and is progressing far behind other races in many areas, and yet, our leaders are engrossed in this disgusting and embarrassing tussle. These leaders will be doing a great injustice to the Indian community if they continue to waste time and resources in this way.
The Indian community is angry and frustrated with what is going on in MIC today. This frustration and anger will ultimately turn against the ruling government.
The time has come for the prime minister to give an ultimatum to MIC leaders to compromise. Perhaps MIC ministers should be advised to take leave. This will allow them to take their time to slug it out in the courts.
Once they have settled their scores or have come to a compromise, then they should be allowed to return. This will jolt both factions to their senses to look at the bigger picture and what they have to lose.
The Barisan National leadership should continue its good work in ensuring the plight of the Indian community is taken care of. BN should consider inviting a BN-friendly Indian party to join the BN family to serve the Indian community.
The Indian community has had enough of the leadership crisis in MIC.
It appears that all these ego-inflated MIC leaders are selfishly guarding their positions and its associated goodies at the expense of the Indian community.
If the warring MIC factions were sincere in wanting to serve the community, they should have reached a compromise by now.
The MIC crisis has put the Indian community into disrespect.
The weakening of MIC’s position in BN has been taken advantage of by certain individuals and groups to humiliate the Indian community indirectly.
If MIC had been strong and committed to serving the community, I don’t think the “drink your own urine” remark would have been made.
Despite the many opportunities that have been offered to Datuk Seri G. Palanivel to put things right, he had failed miserably, perhaps due to ill advice.
There is no turning back now; it is either Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam or Palanivel. Both these gentlemen will be ultimately responsible if any untoward incident were to take place in the community due to their highly charged political “drama”.
S. Param,Ipoh, Perak