Six years ago Dato Seri S.Samy Vellu invited me to join him in undertaking social research and development programmes for the upliftment and advancement of the Malaysian Indian community.
Within a year (1998) Dato Seri, founded the Yayasan Strategik Sosial and over the past few years we have undertaken numerous research projects and community development programmes at the grass roots especially among urban low-income families.
In the context of policy research and grass-roots work, I have had the opportunity to work closely with him and have come to recognise his deep commitment and enduring toil for the upward social mobility of the Malaysian Indian community. He is bogged down every minute with phone calls, people waiting to see him in between his fast movement from one activity to another. He is only a phone call away and accessible to any person like no other minister or high-ranking political official in this country. It is impossible to keep up with his working hours and schedule or even to work with him during field visits.
At 67 (March 8,2003) he was re-elected unopposed by the Malaysian Indian Congress for another term in office which he has been holding since the death of Tan Sri Manickavasagam in 1979. He is the undisputed leader of the Malaysian Indian community, who was one of the recipients of India’s highest award for a Diaspora Indian for his contributions towards the advancement of the community and nation.
Last Tuesday (March 4,2003), Dato Seri in an interview with some journalists shared his vision and challenges he foresees in his next term of office. I had the opportunity to be present at that gathering and noted some of the key points highlighted by Dato Seri which I have summarised below: -
HIS VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY
1. Upgrading Education
The key to success is education and there must be targeting at all levels (pre-school, primary, secondary and post secondary education at vocational and academic institutions of higher learning.Rebuilding Tamil primary schools and ensuring a higher passing rate is one major task of the party and community. A ten-year plan has been developed to redo all the inadequate infrastructure.
It is important to target those with little academic qualifications with skills training at technical and industrial institutions. Redirecting youth energies into positive dimensions is an essential preventive role that will keep them away from anti-social behaviour.
Building the new university (AIMST) and ensuring high standards will be a high priority to ensure adequate number of places for higher education can be secured.
Securing more funds to finance educational advancement by providing loans. Currently the MIC through the educational arm MIED allocates RM10 million as loans to students in institutions of higher learning locally and overseas.
2. Housing the Families
Affordable housing is an urgent and basic necessity. We are working with the federal and state governments to ensure adequate and affordable housing. The prevalence of squatters in the Klang valley and a high Indian population in certain areas will require our direct involvement and intervention to ensure that they are able to secure the houses and the needed loans to buy them.
3. Displaced Plantation Workers
With the shift from rural to urban and plantations being sold for development the issues confronting this section of the Indian community will further require our attention. This includes housing, retraining for employment and integration to urban neighbourhoods.
4. Economic Upliftment
Attention will be given to reach the targets set by government in attaining a high level of equity ownership, securing business loans and participation in business training. Furthermore a monitoring mechanism will be developed to ensure equitable distribution of business licenses, permits and premises.
5. Self-Motivation & Advancement
It is necessary for our people to take advantage of the opportunities available than wait for things to be handed over to them. In a competitive world no one is going to give them chances, we have to strive and struggle in upgrading ourselves. We must learn to avoid wastage and learn to be economical. It is imperative that families must devote utmost priority to education and learn to pull themselves up.
HIS VISION FOR THE PARTY
1. Strengthening the Political Mandate
The MIC is the sole Indian representative in the Barisan led government and “this we intend to uphold”. One key aspect is to continue to remind and challenge the leadership at the grassroots to undertake their leadership role with greater responsibility towards ordinary people, community and nation.
The heart of this dimension called leadership, is knowing needs of the people, feeling for the people and acting on their behalf. In the Barisan National tradition, community problems are raised and a collective approach of addressing them is formulated. We must work harder to voice our concerns and ensure effective implementation and delivery of public sector action in addressing our concerns.
2. Strengthening the Party Administrative Machinery
The party on a systematic basis has carried out yearly branch AGMs and once in 3 years held elections and all the required documentation has been submitted to the Registrar of Societies.The party has grown from about 75,000 members in the early 1980s to the current strength of about 600,000 with 4,300 branches. Membership details are all computerised. The party has large administrative machinery at the party head quarters and the related educational, social and economic institutions, which serve the community. There are party headquarters at the state and division levels around the country.
3. Moulding New & Young Leadership
Political Leadership is always dynamic with new emerging leaders who come with good qualifications and experience. Change is necessary and an integral dimension to any healthy democratic institutions.The women and youth wings of the party are very dynamic and active in carrying out their duties for political mobilisation and social enlistment. We in the MIC are moulding a new generation of people who will be ready to face the 21st century.
(Submitted on 10th March 2003)
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