Hindu right wing flexing muscle in Malaysia
Saturday, 23 February 2008
A new political force - right wing Hindu activism - has strongly emerged in multi-ethnic Malaysia, adding volatility in an election year to the country's already religiously charged political arena dominated by the majority Malay Muslims.
Across the country, ethnic Indians, who make up about 8 per cent of the country's 26 million people, are mobilising to protest against alleged socio-economic neglect and discrimination in employment, education and business at the hands of the ethnic Malay majority, Inter PressNews reportd.
It represents an increasingly vocal ethnic awakening with which opposition political parties are angling to join forces. Last November 25, ethnic Indians took to the streets en masse to protest against alleged discrimination, a protest that resulted in a government crackdown and the indefinite detention of five the Hindu Rights Action Force's, or Hindraf's, top leaders.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has acknowledged that the group's grievances as highlighted by the Hindraf may dent election prospects for his government's ruling National Front. "Yes, I think votes will be affected somewhat," he was recently quoted saying by the Sunday Star newspaper.
The rise of political Hinduism is also unleashing other potentially divisive forces in this fragile multi-ethnic society. As a counteraction to Hindu activism, Malay Muslim support is on the rise for Abdullah, according to recent opinion polls which show his popularity rising from 65 per cent a year ago to 80 per cent at present.
Another significant sign is that while Tamils are flocking to opposition party rallies, Malay Muslims and Chinese are conspicuously missing. Ethnic Chinese, who first arrived in Malaysia as laborers to work in tin mines, now represent 25 per cent of the population and are economically the most vibrant group - controlling by some estimates 60 per cent of the economy.
Observers say the business-minded Chinese, who historically have favored stability and a strong central government, are feeling uneasy with the rise of Hinduism as a political force. The net effect, however, could be that the opposition political parties win large chunks of the smaller Indian vote, but lose a larger portion of the bigger Malay and Chinese votes.
Meanwwhile speculation is rife if long-time Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) chief Samy Vellu would contest in the polls. There is feverish speculation about the leadership of the MIC, the party that represents the interests of Malaysia's 2.5 million ethnic Indians and is part of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. The blogs on the Internet are overactive. According to some, Prime Minister Badawi has asked the long-time MIC chief and Works Minister S. Samy Vellu not to contest the next election.
They have speculated that Vellu's candidature may be given to his son Vel Paari. But the latter has denied the rumours, saying he does not need a position to serve the ethnic Indian community. "Yes, yes, he told me not to contest in 2010," Vellu said mockingly, about the prime minister's purported advice.
Responding to such postings on the web, Vellu blamed it on a "set of mad fellows going around" with the idea of destroying the MIC. "But the more they do it, the stronger we are," he was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper. "These fellows are going to die with the SMS because they are getting mad everyday. They will come to a level very soon where they are fit to go into the mental hospital," he charged. He pinpointed the rumour to a "fat fellow" in the port city of Klang. Asked who the person was, Samy said: "I know. You do the research. A mad fellow goes around the streets. He makes noise and all that."
On suggestions that former MIC deputy president S. Subramaniam was lobbying to stand as a candidate, Vellu said: "Let rumours be rumours". The talk of early polls has also triggered a demand for installation of a caretaker government, although Malaysia's constitution does not provide for it.
Heading the demand is a group headed by Karpal Singh, an ethnic Indian lawmaker from the opposition. Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang has filed an affidavit in support of Singh, seeking a declaration that a caretaker government should be formed after the parliament is dissolved for the upcoming election.
This government, he said in his affidavit, should be set up in place of the government of the day to manage the daily administrative needs of the country and not make policy decisions or provide for allocation of funds.
The originating summons, filed at the high court civil registry, named the Election Commission and the government as defendants.
........................................
The Asian Pacific Post
Across the country, ethnic Indians, who make up about 8 per cent of the country's 26 million people, are mobilising to protest against alleged socio-economic neglect and discrimination in employment, education and business at the hands of the ethnic Malay majority, Inter PressNews reportd.
It represents an increasingly vocal ethnic awakening with which opposition political parties are angling to join forces. Last November 25, ethnic Indians took to the streets en masse to protest against alleged discrimination, a protest that resulted in a government crackdown and the indefinite detention of five the Hindu Rights Action Force's, or Hindraf's, top leaders.
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has acknowledged that the group's grievances as highlighted by the Hindraf may dent election prospects for his government's ruling National Front. "Yes, I think votes will be affected somewhat," he was recently quoted saying by the Sunday Star newspaper.
The rise of political Hinduism is also unleashing other potentially divisive forces in this fragile multi-ethnic society. As a counteraction to Hindu activism, Malay Muslim support is on the rise for Abdullah, according to recent opinion polls which show his popularity rising from 65 per cent a year ago to 80 per cent at present.
Another significant sign is that while Tamils are flocking to opposition party rallies, Malay Muslims and Chinese are conspicuously missing. Ethnic Chinese, who first arrived in Malaysia as laborers to work in tin mines, now represent 25 per cent of the population and are economically the most vibrant group - controlling by some estimates 60 per cent of the economy.
Observers say the business-minded Chinese, who historically have favored stability and a strong central government, are feeling uneasy with the rise of Hinduism as a political force. The net effect, however, could be that the opposition political parties win large chunks of the smaller Indian vote, but lose a larger portion of the bigger Malay and Chinese votes.
Meanwwhile speculation is rife if long-time Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) chief Samy Vellu would contest in the polls. There is feverish speculation about the leadership of the MIC, the party that represents the interests of Malaysia's 2.5 million ethnic Indians and is part of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. The blogs on the Internet are overactive. According to some, Prime Minister Badawi has asked the long-time MIC chief and Works Minister S. Samy Vellu not to contest the next election.
They have speculated that Vellu's candidature may be given to his son Vel Paari. But the latter has denied the rumours, saying he does not need a position to serve the ethnic Indian community. "Yes, yes, he told me not to contest in 2010," Vellu said mockingly, about the prime minister's purported advice.
Responding to such postings on the web, Vellu blamed it on a "set of mad fellows going around" with the idea of destroying the MIC. "But the more they do it, the stronger we are," he was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper. "These fellows are going to die with the SMS because they are getting mad everyday. They will come to a level very soon where they are fit to go into the mental hospital," he charged. He pinpointed the rumour to a "fat fellow" in the port city of Klang. Asked who the person was, Samy said: "I know. You do the research. A mad fellow goes around the streets. He makes noise and all that."
On suggestions that former MIC deputy president S. Subramaniam was lobbying to stand as a candidate, Vellu said: "Let rumours be rumours". The talk of early polls has also triggered a demand for installation of a caretaker government, although Malaysia's constitution does not provide for it.
Heading the demand is a group headed by Karpal Singh, an ethnic Indian lawmaker from the opposition. Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang has filed an affidavit in support of Singh, seeking a declaration that a caretaker government should be formed after the parliament is dissolved for the upcoming election.
This government, he said in his affidavit, should be set up in place of the government of the day to manage the daily administrative needs of the country and not make policy decisions or provide for allocation of funds.
The originating summons, filed at the high court civil registry, named the Election Commission and the government as defendants.
........................................
The Asian Pacific Post