The recent visit by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak to India has become an 'eye-opener' for the Indian community who have all this while have been claiming to have been marginalised.
Datuk Seri Najib's statement at Chennai, India:
January 23, 2010 18:48 PM
By P. Vijian
CHENNAI, Jan 23 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, who made a historic trip to Chennai, said it was to honour Malaysian Indians as a vast majority had cultural bonds with Tamil Nadu from where they originated.
“My trip ends in Chennai, it is not coincidental but intentional because Chennai, Tamil Nadu is the original state where many Malaysian Indians originated from.
“Eighty-five per cent of Malaysian Indians are ethnic Tamils and my visit was to recognise the Malaysian Indian contributions to the development of Malaysia,” said Najib.
Speaking at a special dinner held in conjunction with his visit to the city, Najib said it was important to recognise those who contributed to nation-building, irrespective of their ethnic background.
“So, this visit is important…for 52 years, we have no (Malaysian) prime minister who visited Chennai, I am the first one to visit,” he added.
He also assured Malaysian Indians that their plights would be addressed and the government had taken and would continue to purse policies to help those in need.
“We have heard your call, Malaysian Indians have some dissatisfaction with the Malaysian Government in the past, but we are going to do more for the Indian community,” he said.
Malaysian Indians welfare was always taken care by the MIC (Malaysian Indian Congress), one of the big-brothers of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, who during the 2008 general elections had faced a disastrous defeat for having negelected their plights. The Indians had a 'historical' street demonstrations to express their plight but the BN ruling government had refused to hear their claims.
This statement from PM Datuk Seri Najib seem to appreciate Malaysian Indians for nation-building with deeds in the country and it is really hoped that this is the end of their marginalization and not go to Chennai in India to make beautiful-statements but meaningless tribute.
It is hoped that in line with the 1 MALAYSIA concept initiated by PM Datuk Seri Najib we will see a true and real beginning by PM Datuk Seri Najib by announcing and looking into personally a New Deal to end the marginalization of the Malaysian Indians, and NOT through MIC, which is part of a National New Deal in the Tenth Malaysia Plan to end the marginalization of all Malaysians who have been left out of the mainstream of national development after nine five-year development plans, whether Malays, Indians, Chinese, Orang Asli, Kadazan or Iban.
No comments:
Post a Comment