Identity & Malaysian Indians

There is a resurgence and renewed interest on the theme of identity and its relevance to communities. Social construction is based on issues related to ethnicity, nationality, modernity, class, gender or a multiplicity of these concerns. Furthermore the advent of global capitalism and consumerist culture poses new challenges that require us to face them pragmatically, by utilising the opportunities made available through globalisation without losing cultural and moral values.

What is most urgent for us at this 57th MIC General Assembly is to grapple with the issues and concerns pertaining to the emergence of the new Malaysian Indian identity. In so doing we must reflect on the critical issues from national and global dimensions that will enable us to move beyond the insular and inward looking approaches of the past. There is an urgent need for us to reposition ourselves nationally and globally.

In this process we are Malaysians first with a deep sense of loyalty and patriotism to our nation and commitment as responsible citizens. At the same time our roots are our Indian heritage that is plural in nature with many languages, cultures and religions of the Indian people. Our strength is in our diversity and our new identity must reinforce this legacy that ensures continuous unity and partnership within the Indian people, the nation and the wider world we live in.

The emergence of a new Malaysian Indian identity is imperative for the sustainability of the community in modern Malaysia. This new Malaysian Indian is self-sustaining - generating wealth, self-confident - competing in the open market, self-esteemed - moulding one’s character and way of life. Central to this new identity is the ability to shed the labour image to one which rekindles our self-worth in who we are, what we have accomplished and will achieve in the future.

In the past 20 years, the MIC has gradually attempted to forge a strong and distinct identity for the Indian community from what it was before. The MIC foresees and envisages a total restructuring, revamping and reorientation of the Malaysian Indian community to meet the challenges ahead of us.

(Extract from the Address by MIC President Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu at the 57th MIC General Assembly entitled Towards a new identity: Malaysian Indians in a globalised society, held on May 10, 2003 at the PWTC, Kuala Lumpur)

(Submitted on 10th May 2003)