Datuk G. Palanivel took over the helm of MIC in December last year and wants to restore the confidence of the Indian community. He talks to Chandra Devi Renganayar about his plans.
Datuk G. Palanivel is using his cabinet position to highlight problems faced by the Indian community
Question: What are some of the pressing issues faced by the Indian community in the country?
Answer: The Indian community has suffered some marginalisation for some time. They have to be brought back to the mainstream. For that to happen, a holistic transformation programme has to take place.
The community has to be empowered through education and economic development. When they are economically empowered, the social problem will take care of itself.
We need to equip them, be their support system and guide them towards a purposeful future.
The objective is one of national renewal, a plan that is underlined by fairness and opportunity for all. We want to ensure that no Indian is left behind.
Question: MIC has been criticised for allegedly not doing enough to bring progress to the community. What changes can be expected under your leadership?
Answer: The changes are already taking shape. I have been appointed a minister and with that, I can bring up Indian issues to the cabinet.
The prime minister has approved many things since I made requests at the MIC general assembly in July. But I cannot be the only voice.MIC has to become the voice of the people.
The problems we face today come with a scale and magnitude which can only be overcome if we are united and believe that each one of us has a hand in reshaping the future.
Our vision is to deliver change to the community in four key areas -- human capital, economic capital, social capital and cultural capital -- to unlock short- and long-term growth for the community.
Recently, the prime minister announced my appointment as the lead minister in charge of the Indians' Economic Transformation programme. It is an important responsibility.
In this role, I need to ensure the upward mobility of the community towards achieving a high-income status in line with the core principles of the New Economic Model. This is an ambitious endeavour and is achievable only if supported by a cohesive Indian community and the government.
Question: Reports indicate crime rates are the highest among Indians and that it is reflective of the social and economic backwardness of the community. How is this being addressed?
Answer: I mentioned at the last MIC AGM in the presence of the PM that the Indian community has been a sub-stream community and had suffered a setback and some form of deprivation.
Deprivation leads to violence. Therefore, we must empower them with jobs, education and business opportunities.
We need to mend our broken community. In order to reduce the causes of crime and anti-social behaviour, we are instituting a reform programme to stop this tendency to go back to a life of crime. At the moment, many prisoners, especially young offenders, leave prison and relapse into a life of crime.
We believe that the only way we can address this is by rehabilitating ex-prisoners in a proper and structured programme. We would like to work with the police, Prisons and Welfare Departments.
Under the programme, every prisoner will be tracked and counselled and provided with income-generating opportunities to ensure they have a focus in life.
Question: MIC lost 16 out of the 19 parliamentary seats it held in 2008. Will MIC be able to win the seats if it is allowed to re-contest all the seats it lost in 2008? Is there better support from Indians now compared with 2008?
Answer: The 2008 election was a one-off incident. Across the board, people were angry for various reasons. Angry voters went to the polls. But I think they have realised that now and will not repeat that trend again.
The government is doing many things for the rakyat.Indians voters have realised that their future is with MIC and Barisan Nasional. It has been three years since the last elections and they can see for themselves the new thrust of the PM's leadership. MIC is the only party that can truly represent Indians in this country.
The political landscape of the country has changed. Since the 2008 general election, BN is undergoing a learning curve. Everybody is looking at the future seriously. The people are becoming discerning thinkers.
The 13the general election will be of the people. As for MIC, it will fare better.
Question: Which parliamentary seat will you contest in the 13th general election?
Answer: My primary aim now is to bring back Indian support to BN. I have not thought of a seat yet. But as the party president, I can choose to stand in any of the MIC parliamentary seats.
Question: The grapevine has it that you are overshadowed by your subordinates. Your comments?
Answer: Yes, you could be right. But it is an old story. After I lost in the last election by a mere 198 votes, many thought I was finished.
There were those who left me and changed loyalties. They didn't have the patience to wait for me to come back. I have bounced back. Old soldiers never die.
Fundamentally, if you are good, you are good. I have always had good work ethics, and politics, to me, is about service to the people. I have faced many challenges, sometimes in subtle ways.
My political sustenance is the faith many grassroots members have in me and their appreciation of my ability to work tirelessly. They know it and that's important to me.
I also try and change with the times. I give members the space to air their views, discuss issues openly, plan strategies with contributions from active grassroots leaders.
Question: What is MIC's relationship with the Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party?
Answer: Our relationship with them is just like the relationship with all other parties that are not BN component parties but are BN friendly.
Question: There are claims that the 523 Tamil schools have received little help from the government. Many are in dilapidated and neglected condition. Can you clarify?
Answer: It is time to put behind us the old arguments that have besieged Tamil schools and to put in place a robust "plan-do-check-act" programme with distinct outcomes and milestones.
The government has channelled millions of ringgit to repair Tamil schools. But we need more funds to improve them further. That is the reason the PM has approved another RM100 million under the 2012 Budget.
We are looking at the schools and those which need urgent attention will be attended to first. We will request for more allocations after the amount has been exhausted.
This reinforces education as our number one priority. Education secures the ability of the community to become an equal partner in participating in the future development of the nation.
Question: You have shown support for the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English Policy (PPSMI). Now that schools are able to choose the language of instruction for both the subjects, will you be calling on Tamil schools to use English instead of Tamil?
Answer: If the school has been teaching the subjects in English, they should continue teaching in English and if the schools have been teaching the subjects in Tamil, they should continue doing so. Our objective is not to confuse the pupils.
Question: Indians want more opportunities in terms of employment, education, business and project tenders. What can the community look forward to under the Economic Transformation Programme?
Answer: We have contributed significantly during the founding days of this nation and we now want to play an even greater role in building and shaping the future of this nation.
Innovation and reforms are the two key considerations in driving the change for Malaysians to be involved in the manufacturing and construction industries, service, plantation, agriculture, new technology and emerging innovative businesses.
We also want a "new deal" for SMEs and for first-generation entrepreneurs by assuring them greater access to credit through a new programme called SME-Links.
Question: What are MIC's action plans to bring progress to Indians?
Answer: We intend to build on a stronger community with growth based on fairness and opportunities for all.
I am targeting to create at least 50,000 new Indian entrepreneurs in the next 10 years. These entrepreneurs can provide employment, support Tamil schools and other institutions.
They will play an important role in mainstreaming the Indian community. Mainstreaming the Indian community is my aim.
We need to catch up with the other communities.
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