A political party cannot pretend to be a NGO
YuvanPublished: Apr 27, 2009 8:29 AM | Updated: Apr 27, 2009 8:29 AM
I refer to the Malaysiakini report After Hindraf, here comes Mindraf.
The Indian community in Malaysia is already torn left, right and centre by the MIC, PPP and IPF and Gerakan, too, sometimes claims to represent the Indian community.
On the opposition front, we have the DAP and also PKR which have made significant inroads into the community since the last general elections in 2008.
In addition to all these parties, another party was founded just about a year ago by one S Nallakaruppan. Can anyone remember the name of this party and if it is still around?
And now ‘Mindraf', which is another communal-based party. How many more political parties have to represent the Indian Malaysian community which is shrinking in size and strength by the day?
Well, Manuel Lopez claims that Mindraf has about 3,000 supporters. He was a journalist for about four decades and he should know better.
Unless and until he has a ‘solid backing' of a minimum quarter of a million Indians in his party, he can forget about doing anything meaningful or even claiming to really represent the community.
By ‘solid backing' I mean members who fully subscribe to the party's ideals and truly believe in its objectives and beliefs.
The community needs political aspirants who are willing to face and resolve issues ‘head on' and not opportunists who can only show how good they can ‘beat around the bush'.
It is, therefore, important that Lopez is very clear in his vision and mission for Mindraf. If he says that ‘Mindraf's objective is not focused on gaining political mileage' then why does he want to register it as a political party?
What does he mean by saying ‘we are not looking for ministerial positions'? A political party must have the determination and conviction to do its ‘business' and that is politics. It cannot act or pretend to be like an NGO and attempt to achieve its objectives through political means.
A minority community fighting for its rights and survival needs a ‘strong and clear voice'.
This ‘strong and clear voice' can only be provided by a political party or a political group that is really ‘strong' in numbers and ‘clear' in its conscience and character.
If Mindraf thinks that it can become effective and successful by just taking sympathisers and disgruntled former MIC, PPP, IPF or DAP/PKR members who are only ‘ambitious' and looking for some ‘greener pastures', then it can straightaway write its obituary.
The Indian community in Malaysia is already torn left, right and centre by the MIC, PPP and IPF and Gerakan, too, sometimes claims to represent the Indian community.
On the opposition front, we have the DAP and also PKR which have made significant inroads into the community since the last general elections in 2008.
In addition to all these parties, another party was founded just about a year ago by one S Nallakaruppan. Can anyone remember the name of this party and if it is still around?
And now ‘Mindraf', which is another communal-based party. How many more political parties have to represent the Indian Malaysian community which is shrinking in size and strength by the day?
Well, Manuel Lopez claims that Mindraf has about 3,000 supporters. He was a journalist for about four decades and he should know better.
Unless and until he has a ‘solid backing' of a minimum quarter of a million Indians in his party, he can forget about doing anything meaningful or even claiming to really represent the community.
By ‘solid backing' I mean members who fully subscribe to the party's ideals and truly believe in its objectives and beliefs.
The community needs political aspirants who are willing to face and resolve issues ‘head on' and not opportunists who can only show how good they can ‘beat around the bush'.
It is, therefore, important that Lopez is very clear in his vision and mission for Mindraf. If he says that ‘Mindraf's objective is not focused on gaining political mileage' then why does he want to register it as a political party?
What does he mean by saying ‘we are not looking for ministerial positions'? A political party must have the determination and conviction to do its ‘business' and that is politics. It cannot act or pretend to be like an NGO and attempt to achieve its objectives through political means.
A minority community fighting for its rights and survival needs a ‘strong and clear voice'.
This ‘strong and clear voice' can only be provided by a political party or a political group that is really ‘strong' in numbers and ‘clear' in its conscience and character.
If Mindraf thinks that it can become effective and successful by just taking sympathisers and disgruntled former MIC, PPP, IPF or DAP/PKR members who are only ‘ambitious' and looking for some ‘greener pastures', then it can straightaway write its obituary.
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