Indians need change of mindset not handouts
I refer to your article “Samy accuses govt of failing Indian M’sians“ dated Oct 12 2005.
Datuk Sri Samy’s outburst and frustration is understandable. After being at the helm of MIC and in the government for more than 22 years,he is still not able to improve the wealth of the Indian community as planned.In fact Indian community’s share of the national wealth has decreased over the years.If the present trends continue they will even lose the present 1.5% equity.The Indian community will become further burdened with a high rate of poverty,unemployment,gangsterism,alcoholism and even terrorism.
Do we expect a favourable response from the BN government?The answer is definitely a big “NO”.
From past experience we know the government will not take any steps to improve the wealth and condition of the Malaysian Indians.It is not in their priority list as the Indians do not have any electoral or economic power.We have to do that ourselves and ourselves alone.
We Indians,regardless of our religious believes, seem to spend too much time,energy and money to mantain and preserve our cultural and religious traditions.I do not deny these are good and necessary but we must also seriously indulge in activities to develop our economic well being as well.The latter is equally important in today’s world.We must strike a balance between the two.
We have lost all that we had – government posts,the estates and businesses.We depended too much on government handouts for our economic development.This could have worked well before but we cannot depend on that anymore.Nobody is going to help us achieve our economic targets if we ourselves do do nothing about it.In time to come even our businesses and trade will be confined to our own comunity.
I do not imply that we close shop and stop fighting for our constitutinal rights.The struggle to uplift our well being must continue.We have to revise our strategy in keeping with the realities of our times.This can only be done by acquiring latest knowledge and skills in the field of economy,science and technology and accept modern concepts to apply them in our endeavors to achieve prosperity.
Depending solely on divine help will not take us anywhere as God only helps those who help themselves.
Dr.Chris Anthony
dr chris,
ur advice should ho to all malaysians.. being so-called the “previledged race” hasnt helped bumiputras much. we’re burdened with same issues and problems as any race does. the previledge race, is a previledge few..