PETALING JAYA: Indian MPs who once fiercely criticised MIC for failing to uplift the community have gone quiet since joining the government, leaving many of its marginalised members without a voice in Parliament, the author of a new book claims.
Janakey Raman Manickam, 78, a former menial labourer, said DAP MPs were particularly vocal about the plight of poor Indians before the 2018 general election, frequently criticising MIC and its longtime president, the late S Samy Vellu, for failing to address the community’s problems.
“I am flabbergasted at Indian MPs and the various state assemblymen from PKR, DAP and even the sole MIC MP (M Saravanan) for keeping their mouth shut when it comes to issues affecting marginalised Indians,” he said.
Janakey, who authored the book, Malaysian Indians: Impact and Pain: Narration of an Unending Saga of a Marginalised Community, said the same MPs appear to have lost their voices after becoming part of the government.
He questioned why those who had once championed the community’s cause were no longer as outspoken about its problems.
Janakey, who said he has closely followed Dewan Rakyat proceedings since 2023, accused Indian MPs from DAP and PKR of not doing enough to highlight the issues plaguing marginalised Indians.
He also questioned why Indian MPs from Pakatan Harapan were not doing more to push for solutions despite being in the government.
“Your party chastised and denounced MIC and Samy Vellu for their inability to solve the countless Indian problems.
“But you are now part of the government, and the Indian conundrum remains.
“Instead of finding solutions, you are behaving like opposition leaders,” he wrote in the 500-page book.
Go back to your constituencies
Janakey urged MPs and state assemblymen, regardless of race, to identify marginalised Indian families in their constituencies and assess the assistance they require.
He suggested using electoral rolls to identify former estate workers and their descendants, assess their current socioeconomic circumstances, and compile information on their needs.
The findings, he said, should be channelled through party leaders to the prime minister, while the communities’ problems should be raised in Parliament and state assemblies.
Janakey also argued that placing marginalised Indians under the broad B40 income category failed to account for the historical disadvantages they had endured.
“These marginalised communities have been neglected for more than five decades,” he said.
“Their deprivation, suffering and woes are legacy issues that need national attention.
“The Indian MPs must be united to raise these issues in Parliament.”
The book was launched on Oct 11 and is priced at RM49.90. Those interested in purchasing a copy can contact the author via WhatsApp at 013-392 7727.