MIC Youth: Mahathir as PM is bad news for Indians

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MIC Youth: Mahathir as PM is bad news for Indians

By

 Berita Daily Staff

 

Last Updated 8th January, 2018, 11:39 AM

The fact remains that the policies put in place by Mahathir had affected the Indians, and the struggle to reverse the damage done by his administration is still an ongoing battle

KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian community here will be most affected by Pakatan Harapan’s decision to name former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad as their prime minister in the event they win GE14, said MIC Youth chief today.

C Sivaraajh said this was because Mahathir was known for his race-based policies which he had implemented during his 22-year tenure as the prime minister.

“Indians must keep in mind that it was the policies set by Mahathir’s 22-year administration that gradually eroded the economic share that Indians had in the country.

“And it was those policies that eventually brought about resentment that spilled out on the streets via the Hindraf rally in 2007,” he said in a statement today.

He said that during Mahathir’s tenure, the number Indian doctors was reduced, while insurance industry players were also affected, thus limiting economic opportunities for Indians.

Professional fields in which Indians were dominant were all affected by these policies, thus reducing the Indians’ share of the economic pie, he added.

“Even Mahathir had admitted that Indians were poorly served during his 22 years leading the country. He had promised to do better this time, but if he was unable to ensure aid and allocations reached Indians while having an Indian party as his BN component, how will he fare leading a Pakatan Harapan lineup that does not have a single party representing the interest of Indians?”

He said Mahathir made plenty of references in his speech during the Pakatan congress on Sunday regarding the “politically unaware” that need to be approached using a bumiputera-only political platform.

However he added Mahathir made very little references to the economically poor Indians across the country.

“Will Pakatan attempt to educate them, let alone do the necessary to raise their socio-economic status?

“The fact remains that the policies put in place by Mahathir had affected the Indians, and the struggle to reverse the damage done by his administration is still an ongoing battle for us.”

Sivaraajh said that Prime Minister Najib Razak has taken proactive steps in addressing the problems suffered by Indians, including with the introduction of the Malaysian Indian Blueprint (MIB).

He warned Indians not to be deceived by the promises made by Mahathir now regarding the future.