Extracts from the Speeches by MIC President at the MIC General Assembly from 1997 with Reference to Social Issues

While I am optimistic that a large section of the Malaysian Indian community will benefit from the many opportunities in modern Malaysia, a segment of our community is on the fringes of development mainly as plantation workers and squatters.

Over the past century Malaysian Indians, being trapped in the plantations and in recent decades as urban squatters have developed a `sub-culture' alienating themselves from mainstream Malaysian society. This sub-culture is a mindset that is besieged by hopelessness and helplessness, captive to low self-esteem and low self-image, coupled with the lack of opportunities to pursue education and employment. The environmental degradation of urban squatters is a further contributing factor towards a depressed sub-culture.

Sociologists have argued that `gangs arise in sub-cultural communities where the chances of achieving success legitimately are small.' While we need to take tough action on gangs and crime through effective enforcement and policing, it is equally important to examine the root causes and chart out preventive strategies in eliminating this scourge from within our community.

Squatter environment provides little by way of tapping the full potential of modern youths. While our government attempts to provide adequate and affordable low-cost housing, there is much to be desired at this moment. Thousands of displaced Malaysia Indians from the plantations are trapped within the `urban decay' with very little public facilities which could provide healthy outlets for the many energetic squatter youths who wander into anti-social tendencies.

Urgent action must be taken both at the policy and implementation levels to prevent the emergence of a `disadvantaged community' and a `delinquent community' in modern Malaysia. It is imperative for us to implement delinquency prevention efforts as early as possible in a child's life.

On our part, the Malaysian Indian Congress has launched a Social Recovery Programme in an attempt to address social ills. We want to lay a strong emphasis on the family unit in the context of the neighbourhood, community and nation. We plan to recapture the strength and values from our culture and tradition.

We have established a national coordinating secretariat at the party headquarters headed by a programme consultant and assisted by two social science graduates to ensure effective and efficient implementation.

We have embarked on training MIC youth and women as community workers. Under this programme the first batch of 110 workers will be trained in basic skills in addressing social ills in the community. These workers will initiate service programmes at the grassroots.

1998 MIC AGM
To strengthen the social programmes run by the MIC, YSS was formed to conduct social and strategic research, identify the causes of social ills and implement programmes that have impact and are efficient, whether in prevention or rehabilitation.

The foundation set up by the MIC needs resources to complement the Government efforts towards reducing poverty and eradicate social ills. I have raised the matter with the Cabinet Committee on Eradicating Social Ills and have been asked to table a working paper on social ills with reference to the Indian community.

I have also discussed with the Minister of National Unity and Social Development, YB Datin Paduka Zaleha Ismail regarding the form of assistance to improve the Foundation's activities.

2000 MIC AGM
The MIC has commissioned YSS to undertake a study to ascertain the total number of Indian squatters in the Federal Territory. The Foundation has completed almost 85 percent of this exercise and we hope to complete the report by the middle of this year.

The MIC wishes to place before YAB Prime Minister, that redressing the social requirements of citizens should be the primary responsibility of the Government. Any investment for the poor and disadvantaged by reforming their social conditions will be an investment to strengthen the foundations of the Barisan Nasional government.

2001 MIC AGM
Enhancing Proactive And Preventive Strategies

The MIC does not only react to situations and circumstances when problems arise but adopts proactive and preventive measures in addressing he community's concerns. YSS was established on this board principle to undertake studies and recommend appropriate programmes. This research unit is headed by Dr Denison Jayasooria with 20 full-time staff including graduate research and community development officers. We have now planned to strengthen this unit further by providing post-graduate training in order to obtain effective manpower in eliminating social ills from society.

The MIC takes a serious view of rising crime, violence and social disorders among the youths of the community. To combat this situation, the MIC organised an Anti-Violence campaign nationwide to eliminate crime and violence from society. A `reach out' programme was planned and implemented with media campaign, school-based programmes and youth-based activities to reach out to youths.

We have laid out a large network of programmes in line with the Social Management System (PINTAS) set up by the Ministry of National Unity and Social Development. We also work with other organisations like the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation which have similar objectives. Smart partnerships between Government and voluntary organisations is important in the fight against social ills.

(Submitted on 8th January 2002)