Election Special : MIC: Start by setting up key bureaus...well...well...yeah after 29 years

Source : NST
Image : Net


MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu recently spoke of changes needed to overhaul and transform the party to cater to the increasing expectations and challenges facing the Indian community.

One of the essential changes will be to set up social, economic, agriculture, employment, education and other bureaus.

At present, most of the programmes are undertaken by the Yayasan Strategik Sosial which, unfortunately, seems unable to muster a pro-active response to various issues affecting the Indians.

When the new bureaus begin focusing on specific needs and objectives, in-depth knowledge can be gained, problems analysed and solutions found.

For example, the education bureau can handle issues ranging from Tamil schools to school dropouts to university intake.

Those managing the bureaus could gain from the hands-on approach and close contact with the community’s problems and challenges. This could propel them into positions as second- and third-echelon leaders of the party.

The MIC also needs to consider setting up a think-tank comprising local Indian experts to formulate strategies for the community’s future. Forums can be held to identify needs and the responses necessary.

More attempts should be made to get Indian ethnic groups into the MIC fold and groom them for leadership positions.

The MIC also needs to combine efforts with the Malaysian Trades Union Congress and non-governmental organisations to campaign for a minimum wage scheme in the private sector. Indian workers will be one of the beneficiaries.

The party needs to focus more on Indian workers in small and medium-sized enterprises, which make up 90 per cent of local industries. Previously, many semi-literate and unskilled workers, including those displaced from the estates, could easily find employment in this sector.

The SME sector was the preserve of the lower-income group. However, the preferences of local employers have now shifted towards foreign workers.

There is lot of discontent among Indians who resent this favouring of foreign workers for jobs which can be done by the locals. The MIC and the government need to study whether these conditions — and fewer openings in the public sector — have caused a groundswell of discontent in the community.