[Editor’s Note] This is media coverage on a fruitful meeting between Waythamoorthy and Ganesan, leaders of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) on the one hand, and Anwar Ibrahim and Tian Chua, leaders of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) on the other hand.
Waythamoorthy, leader of the Indian community, had been in exile for 5 years since 2007. He succeeded in voicing abroad the indictment against the British government for causing the plight of the Indian community by way of importing ethnic Indians into this colony, but allowing them to be marginalized after Independence.
This was the first time that Waythamoorthy managed to express the aspirations of the Indian community to the leaders of PKR - the largest opposition party in our country.
Reportedly, PKR’s leaders sympathised with the Indian community over its abject misery. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has incorporated Hindraf’s proposed solutions in the Orange Book (Buku Jingga), and PR will certainly implement such proposals.
PKR gave the promise that if PR comes into power, it would set a timeline to fully resolve the issue of stateless Indians.
The report also reflected the political wisdom of Tian Chua, PKR Deputy President in listening to the demands of the Indian community, in his efforts to gain Indian and other ethnic communities’ support for PKR and PR.
Hindraf Johor and FOS Johor jointly issued a Letter from Johore NGOs to the Johore People on 19 October. The slogan appearing in the Letter is “Unite! People of Johore, Realize 3 Pressing Demands; Smash UMNO Hegemony, Form a Democratic United Front!”.
The Johor Demand reflects the aspirations of the people of Johor and the various ethnic communities of the country. It was officially handed over to the leaders of 3 political parties in Pakatan Rakyat. The masses of all etchnic communities in Johore are looking forward to their positive response.
The outcome of this meeting between the top leaders of Hindraf and PKR and its subsequent development will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the recent campaign in Johore that “BN Belongs to the Dustbin of History”.
The full text is appended below:
Waythamoorthy, leader of the Indian community, had been in exile for 5 years since 2007. He succeeded in voicing abroad the indictment against the British government for causing the plight of the Indian community by way of importing ethnic Indians into this colony, but allowing them to be marginalized after Independence.
This was the first time that Waythamoorthy managed to express the aspirations of the Indian community to the leaders of PKR - the largest opposition party in our country.
Reportedly, PKR’s leaders sympathised with the Indian community over its abject misery. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has incorporated Hindraf’s proposed solutions in the Orange Book (Buku Jingga), and PR will certainly implement such proposals.
PKR gave the promise that if PR comes into power, it would set a timeline to fully resolve the issue of stateless Indians.
The report also reflected the political wisdom of Tian Chua, PKR Deputy President in listening to the demands of the Indian community, in his efforts to gain Indian and other ethnic communities’ support for PKR and PR.
Hindraf Johor and FOS Johor jointly issued a Letter from Johore NGOs to the Johore People on 19 October. The slogan appearing in the Letter is “Unite! People of Johore, Realize 3 Pressing Demands; Smash UMNO Hegemony, Form a Democratic United Front!”.
The Johor Demand reflects the aspirations of the people of Johor and the various ethnic communities of the country. It was officially handed over to the leaders of 3 political parties in Pakatan Rakyat. The masses of all etchnic communities in Johore are looking forward to their positive response.
The outcome of this meeting between the top leaders of Hindraf and PKR and its subsequent development will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the recent campaign in Johore that “BN Belongs to the Dustbin of History”.
The full text is appended below:
For the first time since its inception, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has officially met PKR's top brass, including opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, to discuss issues affecting the Indian community.
The Hindraf delegation was led by the movement's chairperson P Waythamoorthy (right), who appears to have a less acrimonious relationship with the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, in contrast to his brother, Uthayakumar.
Uthayakumar is Hindraf's most recognisable face who was the movement's de facto leader in Waythamoorthy's absence. The latter was in exile since December 2007 and returned home on Aug 1.
Under Uthayakumar's stewardship, Pakatan components, save for PAS, have repeatedly avoided any high-level talks with Hindraf.
Uthayakumar has since formed the Human Rights Party, which has threatened to contest Pakatan held seats.
Speaking to Malaysiakini later, Waythamoorthy said that the meeting lasted almost two hours and also involved vice-president Tian Chua and former vice-president R Sivarasa, among others.
Waytha: Fruitful meeting
Waythamoorthy said that although there were no agreements reached "yet", the discussion was nevertheless "fruitful".
There is a clear desire that PKR wishes to work with Hindraf," added Hindraf national adviser N Ganesan (left), who was also at the meeting.
He said the issues discussed included displaced estate workers, stateless Indians, and education.
While there are some kinks to be ironed out, he said overall there has been a high degree of mutual agreement between the two parties.
When asked, Waythamoorthy said a similar invitation to discuss Indian Malaysian concerns had been sent to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak but had elicited no response so far.
In contrast, Ganesan said Hindraf will be meeting PKR leaders again next week and also with other Pakatan components.
Non-racial approach
Meanwhile, Batu MP Tian Chua said:"We sympathise with the situation (of the Indian Malaysian community) but we are stressing that Pakatan would take an approach that would be non-racial and help people regardless ethnic groups and religion."
He added that many of Hindraf's proposed solutions have already been incorporated in Pakatan's Buku Jingga (Orange Book) manifesto, and the opposition coalition should have no problem committing to them.
Ganesan had earlier told Malaysiakini that Hindraf proposed solutions would be unveiled on Nov 25 in conjunction with the 5th anniversary of the 2007 mass rally which saw 30,000 people take to Kuala Lumpur streets.
Tian Chua (left) added that Pakatan's support for Indian Malaysian issues are not contingent on Hindraf support.
"We are not there to exchange political favours... I think Waythamoorthy is quite sincere about the plight of the Malaysian Indian community and he wanted to see Pakatan committment to resolve them.
"We gave him the assurance that we are sincere. Whether Hindraf rallies support for Pakatan or not, it is nevertheless our obligation to resolve the issues of the Malaysian Indian community," he said.
Tian Chua said that among others, PKR promised Hindraf that if it comes into power, it would set a timeline to fully resolve the issue of stateless persons.
The Hindraf delegation was led by the movement's chairperson P Waythamoorthy (right), who appears to have a less acrimonious relationship with the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, in contrast to his brother, Uthayakumar.
Uthayakumar is Hindraf's most recognisable face who was the movement's de facto leader in Waythamoorthy's absence. The latter was in exile since December 2007 and returned home on Aug 1.
Under Uthayakumar's stewardship, Pakatan components, save for PAS, have repeatedly avoided any high-level talks with Hindraf.
Uthayakumar has since formed the Human Rights Party, which has threatened to contest Pakatan held seats.
Speaking to Malaysiakini later, Waythamoorthy said that the meeting lasted almost two hours and also involved vice-president Tian Chua and former vice-president R Sivarasa, among others.
Waytha: Fruitful meeting
Waythamoorthy said that although there were no agreements reached "yet", the discussion was nevertheless "fruitful".
There is a clear desire that PKR wishes to work with Hindraf," added Hindraf national adviser N Ganesan (left), who was also at the meeting.
He said the issues discussed included displaced estate workers, stateless Indians, and education.
While there are some kinks to be ironed out, he said overall there has been a high degree of mutual agreement between the two parties.
When asked, Waythamoorthy said a similar invitation to discuss Indian Malaysian concerns had been sent to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak but had elicited no response so far.
In contrast, Ganesan said Hindraf will be meeting PKR leaders again next week and also with other Pakatan components.
Non-racial approach
Meanwhile, Batu MP Tian Chua said:"We sympathise with the situation (of the Indian Malaysian community) but we are stressing that Pakatan would take an approach that would be non-racial and help people regardless ethnic groups and religion."
He added that many of Hindraf's proposed solutions have already been incorporated in Pakatan's Buku Jingga (Orange Book) manifesto, and the opposition coalition should have no problem committing to them.
Ganesan had earlier told Malaysiakini that Hindraf proposed solutions would be unveiled on Nov 25 in conjunction with the 5th anniversary of the 2007 mass rally which saw 30,000 people take to Kuala Lumpur streets.
Tian Chua (left) added that Pakatan's support for Indian Malaysian issues are not contingent on Hindraf support.
"We are not there to exchange political favours... I think Waythamoorthy is quite sincere about the plight of the Malaysian Indian community and he wanted to see Pakatan committment to resolve them.
"We gave him the assurance that we are sincere. Whether Hindraf rallies support for Pakatan or not, it is nevertheless our obligation to resolve the issues of the Malaysian Indian community," he said.
Tian Chua said that among others, PKR promised Hindraf that if it comes into power, it would set a timeline to fully resolve the issue of stateless persons.
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