Latest Interview by Wathya Moorthy’s , Chairman Of Hindraf…
Source : Strait Times of Singapore, 2 Jan 2008
LONDON - MINORITY ethnic Indians are fighting a ‘losing battle’ for equal rights in Malaysia, and their fledgling protest movement against the Muslim-dominated government is likely to die soon, a protest leader told reporters.
Ultimately, only the government - not the people - can bring about real change by giving concessions to ethnic Indians, said P. Waytha Moorthy, the chairman of the Hindu Rights Action Force group that is leading the Indian movement.
‘We are fighting a losing battle, we know. We try our level best but if we don’t succeed, we have to call it a day, isn’t it?’ Mr Moorthy said in the interview this week in the London suburb of Hounslow, where he is living with friends in self-imposed exile.
‘We have to close the chapter. There may be a new chapter, but we may not be part of the next chapter,’ a tired-looking Mr Moorthy said during the chat at a McDonald’s restaurant.
‘I know, eventually we will also fail.’
Source of woes
Ethnic Indians form about 8 per cent of Malaysia’s 27 million people, and complain that the government denies them opportunities in jobs, education and business.
They say that years of systematic repression have kept them at the bottom of the society.
The government denies this and says all Malaysians have benefited from the spectacular progress of the export-driven economy since independence in 1957.
‘We want the minority Indians to be given their basic rights If they can give us two or three (real concessions), we are willing to keep our mouth shut I don’t look at myself as a sacrificer,’ Mr Moorthy said.
‘That’s what I don’t understand why isn’t the government conceding? We are not asking for super rights, we are asking for basic rights.’
Ethnic Indians, most of them descendants of 19th century plantation workers from southern India, also accuse the government of turning a blind eye to the destruction by local civic authorities of Hindu temples.
Mr Moorthy’s statements are the most honest and frank assessment of the reality faced by the minority community who have little economic or political clout.
Malaysia’s majority Malay Muslims, who are 60 per cent of the population, control the government, while the ethnic Chinese - who are a quarter of the population - dominate business.
The Indian frustrations took public shape for the first time when Hindraf organised a massive rally on Nov 25 of about 30,000 people in defiance of a government ban.
Mr Moorthy fled the country fearing arrest but five other Hindraf leaders were subsequently detained under the Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite jail without trial.
They were accused of being a threat to national security but no charges have been filed.
Mr Moorthy said public support for Hindraf has increased after the arrests, but the movement was ’stagnant’ now.
‘What we can, we will still do. But if the whole struggle is going to die, what can we do?’ he said.
‘As it stands now I don’t think we can accelerate.’
He said he doesn’t regret starting the movement.
‘I will never regret but I feel sorry’ for those detained and ‘frustrated with the system, the government.’
‘I’ll keep pushing it, but again, to what extent? Funds are limited. Once we have exhausted all our funds, that’s it. It’s sad but there is nothing I can do after that. Let somebody else continue.’
Hindraf’s worry
He said his biggest worry is that when Hindraf fails, the poor and uneducated Indians will come to hate the government even more, and may resort to violence.
He added he does not condone or support violence in any form.
‘So by stopping us today, they are actually planting the seeds of further hatred. After a certain limit, (the people) will react on their own and then nobody will have control over them. That is my biggest fear,’ Mr Moorthy said.
He said he plans to stay in London for now and continue lobbying internationally with Hindraf donations.
‘I would prefer to keep pushing, keep the people’s spirit high The safest thing to do is to conduct prayers.’ — AP
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