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Hindraf decides to oppose Malaysian Indian Congress

SINGAPORE: The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has decided to campaign against the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) in the run-up to the snap general elections, slated for March 8, in the country.

This follows an assessment by Hindraf whether it should to go the whole hog in a political offensive against the long-established organisation of the mostly Hindu ethnic Indians in the Muslim-majority Malaysia.

The MIC has remained a constituent of each successive governing coalition, led by the United Malays National Organisation in a multi-racial “compact,” since independence in 1957.

In contrast, Hindraf, which began an intensive campaign a few months ago for the “basic rights” of the nearly two-million people of Indian origin, is not a political party. Nor have the Malaysian authorities agreed to register it as a non-governmental organisation.

However, some of its activists, including a leader detained without legally testable charges and trial under the Internal Security Act (ISA), are contesting on the Opposition

Democratic Action Party (DAP) ticket.

The DAP has taken Hindraf under their wings for this poll. It has welcomed long-time MIC leader Ishwar Nahappan into its fold, and the Parti Keadilan Rakyat, guided by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Hindraf National Coordinator Thanenthiran Ramankutty told The Hindu over the telephone from Malaysia on Friday that his group was now “left with no choice but to oppose the MIC.”

According to him, the MIC had not articulated, during the ongoing campaign, any of the key issues raised by Hindraf such as equal rights and opportunities for the ethnic Indians on a par with the Malay majority.

Nor had the MIC so far echoed Hindraf’s demand that five of its leaders, detained under the ISA since last December, be set free.

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