I only preach...I don't practise

'PKR leaders did not highlight plight of Indians'
MON, 31 MAY 2010 12:12
By B Nantha Kumar

KOTA BARU: The sixth national PKR congress, which ended yesterday, did not go down well with many unhappy grassroots Indian representatives.

They feel that while the congress had highlighted Malay and Bumiputera issues, it had failed to “provide space” and insight into the plight of the Indians.

Alor Gajah’s G Rajandran said after three days of debate, he was disappointed with the outcome of the convention.

“Yes, I am disappointed. No space was given to the Indian community. No one raised the problems faced by the Indian community.

“I thought the congress would be a suitable place for PKR Indian or other leaders to raise issues faced by our community and suggestions made to solve them,” he told FMT on the sideline of the convention.

Rajendran said too much attention was given to the party’s aim to capture Putrajaya.

“To get to Putrajaya, we will need to resolve the problems plaguing the various communities, including the Indians.

“PKR needs to win the Indians back. The Indians are disappointed with the party,” he said. He was alluding to the major role played by the Indians in Pakatan Rakyat's historic victories in the 2008 general election.

'Recapture the Indian hearts'

Describing himself as a diehard PKR supporter, Rajendran said while Putrajaya can remain the ultimate goal, it is important to find solutions to the perennial problems gripping the Indian community in at least the Pakatan-led states -- Selangor, Kedah and Penang.

Former Bukit Selambu state assembly V Arumugam also felt that the convention should have at least addressed the reasons behind the swing in Indian support towards the Barisan Nasional in the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election.

“In Hulu Selangor, they voted for BN not because of the money. They were protesting against PKR for failing to keep its promises.

“That’s the reality PKR must accept… Pakatan is slow and dismissive of the Indian issue, which is a dangerous attitude to take in peninsular states,” he said.

According to Arumugam, before the 2008 political tsunami, PKR leaders were often seen on the ground engaging the Indian community.

“But after winning their seats, the PKR leaders had no time for them.

“Two years have gone by. We are not asking for miracles but some concerted efforts must be made to draw up strategies to win their support in the next general election.

“We must recapture the Indian hearts,” he said.