Wakil rakyat India dulu lantang kritik MIC kini ‘bisu’, kata penulis

Malaysian Indian MPs once outspoken against MIC, now "soft," says writer Janakey Raman Manickam. The 78-year-old former laborer and author of Malaysian Indians: Impact and Pain: Narration of an Unending Saga of a Marginalised Community observes that DAP MPs frequently highlighted the plight of impoverished Indian communities ahead of the 2018 General Election.

He expresses surprise at seeing Indian MP and several state representatives from PH, including DAP and PKR, remain silent when issues concerning Indian communities arose. Manickam points out that these MPs were once vocal in criticizing MIC and former MIC President S Samy Vellu for failing to address various issues affecting the Indian community.

Despite now being part of the government, he questions why these MPs haven't made more concerted efforts to find solutions. He criticizes his party for behaving like opposition leaders while the issues persist. Manickam urges all MPs, regardless of community, to identify and acknowledge the marginalized Indian families in their constituencies and assess the necessary support.

He proposes using electoral rolls to identify former beauticians and their descendants, alongside evaluating socio-economic conditions and immediate family needs. He suggests that funds should be channeled through party leaders to the Prime Minister, while issues concerning this community must be raised in Parliament and the DUN.

He also notes that the marginalized Indian community has been underrepresented in terms of income classification (B40) for decades. Manickam believes that this marginalized group's suffering, hardships, and issues are a legacy that requires national attention. His book was launched on October 11 and retails for RM49.90. Interested readers can contact the author via WhatsApp at 013-392 7727.