◆ Photo-Illustrations of Hindraf 2.0 Rally 12-May ◆
The Correct Approach to be Adopted by Hindraf 2.0
is to "Carry on the Struggle against Oppression"!
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| 【Photo 1】After Sahabat Rakyat released Part 1 of Sahabat Rakyat's interview with Uthayakumar, the key leader of Hindraf Rally on 25 November 2007, we were informed that Uthayakumar, with the support from some Hindraf grassroots cadres, planned to organise a rally on 12 May 2pm at Brickfields (also known as Little India), Kuala Lumpur, a confluence of the Indian culture. The objective of the rally is to review the performance and governance of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in conjunction with the 1st anniversary of PH rule, and to express the feelings and voices of the majority of the Indian poor. The rally was held at the fountain circle of Brickfields. A lot of cars passed by, it was pretty eye catching. 6 members of Sahabat Rakyat Working Committee, Nyam Kee Han, Choo Shinn Chei, Ang Pei Shan, Yong Siew Lee, Choo Shinn Chien and Tan Seng Hin (@Chen Xin), drove from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur to attend this event to express our concern and support for Uthyakumar-led Hindraf 2.0. |
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| 【Photo 2】Two days before we set off, we had prepared two banners. The banner with Malay slogan is longer, and the one with Chinese slogan is shorter. Before the rally began, we joined 2 wooden sticks that were brought to the venue up and down to prop up the Malay banner. The enthusiastic Indian compatriots volunteered to help out. We were glad with their enthusiasm. |
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| 【Photo 3】When we propped up the Malay and Chinese banners that read "Oppose the continuation of 'racial discrimination', dissatisfied with becoming 'lower-class citizens'!", that was welcomed and appreciated by Hindraf 2.0 cadres and the Indian passers-by. Uthayakumar, leader of Hindraf 2.0 was excited and complimented that our banner slogan highlighted the theme of the event. The man with a black bag in the photo above is Mahendran, the moderator of the rally. |
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| 【Photo 4】Before the rally began, Uthayakumar, the leader of Hindraf 2.0, came to see the placement of the two banners we brought. It turned out that he was going to put those two banners right behind the stage (shown in Photo 3 above) as the background of the stage, and combined them with several banners they prepared, only then the rally began at 2-ish. The first person to speak was another Uthaya Kumar, the Hindraf 2.0 cadre from Seremban (speaker in the centre of the picture above). The rally was chaired and speeches were delivered in Tamil. The purpose of our attendance was mainly to give Hindraf 2.0 our moral support and to express our aspiration to unite with the Indian ethnic community. |
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| 【Photo 5】The next speaker was Uthayakumar, the leader of Hindraf 2.0 (second from the left) to report PH report card after ruling for a year. The key message of the report card of PH and the slogan of the banners prepared by Hindraf 2.0 is: the racist and (Malay) hegemonic policies implemented by the ruling party (from Parti Perikatan/Barisan Nasional to PH) since independence have been oppressing the B75 Indian community. According to Uthayakumar, B75 is the low-income group which makes up 75% of the total Indian population in our country. Uthayakumar said that PH promised during the election campaign that it would eliminate all racial discrimination and protect the rights and interests of the Indian ethnic group. Now the PH government has been in power for one year, it is time to fulfil its promise. The Indian dilemmas and problems mentioned by him include statelessness (without identity cards), unequal business opportunities and educational opportunities and so on. |
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| 【Photo 6】Over a hundred of Indian masses participated in the rally. According to Basgaran, one of the person in charge of the rally, the original target attendees of the rally was merely 50 people (we gathered that Uthayakumar and his supporters originally just wanted to hold a round table meeting indoor but then decided to switch to a rally outdoor). Therefore, to the organiser, more than 100 attendees was indeed a big encouragement. |
【Photo 7】Apart from Hindraf 2.0 cadres, there were 8 other speakers on the day of the rally. Those speakers were of different backgrounds, including from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), other non-governmental organizations or individual democrats. The organiser encouraged the attendees to come to the stage to share their opinions – this approach is liberal and commendable. This shows that Uthayakumar and other leaders of Hindraf 2.0 are willing to listen to the voices and aspirations of the broad Indian masses, and then fight in accordance with the common voices and aspirations of the Indians and people of all ethnic communities. Only by doing so, Hindraf 2.0 leadership can gain the support of the Indians and the masses of all ethnic groups.
【Photo 8】The organiser also invited Sahabat Rakyat to speak. Nyam Kee Han (second from left), Presidium member of Sahabat Rakyat represented us to deliver a speech. Nyam's speech mainly indicated that the Chinese and Indian ethnic communities are victims of the Malay racist hegemonic rule. The struggle to free themselves from becoming a victim, regardless of the Chinese or the Indian community, can hardly succeed if it is done in isolation. Therefore, the Chinese and Indian communities must unite and join hand with other oppressed minorities to form a powerful force against Malay racist hegemonic rule, thereby changing our status of being oppressed, discriminated, and harmed. Let us not forget that these two ethnic groups add up to about 40% of the forces.
【Photo 9】Nyam then mentioned in his speech the story about Lim Lian Geok and the Chinese education in Malaysia, and gave Uthayakumar a book entitled "Lim Lian Geok: Soul of the Malaysian Chinese" written in English by Kua Kia Soong. Nyam said that this book records the uncompromising struggle carried out by Lim Lian Geok, the "Soul" of the Malaysian Chinese in fighting for the rights of survival and development of the Chinese education in Malaya before and after independence. For this, his citizenship was deprived by the ruling clique and yet to be reinstated till to date, 34 years after his departure. We hope that the leaders and cadres of Hindraf 2.0 would be able to understand the deeds and experiences of Lim Lian Geok's struggle for the survival and development of the Chinese education in our country, and thereby serve as a reference for their struggle for basic rights in the future. This should also then promote the mutual understanding and unity between the Indian and Chinese ethnic communities.
Nyam Kee Han added in the media interview after the rally that: Despite the fact that Malaysia has long achieved independence, many national policies such as new economic policies, matriculation and quota system are still unfair to non-Malays. He expressed his agreement with what pointed out by Hindraf earlier that the 'special position' of Malays set forth in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution is the core of the problem. The provision is intended to protect Malays by discriminating against other ethnic groups. Unreasonable and unfair provisions should be reviewed or even repealed.
【Photo 10】The rally ended at 4-ish in the afternoon. After the rally, several of our working committee members took a group photo with the cadres and supporters of Hindraf 2.0.
【Photo 11】After the rally, Uthayakumar and several cadres warmly invited us for a drink at a restaurant nearby. The picture above was taken together with Uthayakumar. From left to right: Sahabat Rakyat Working Committee members Choo Shinn Chien, Tan Seng Hin and Choo Shinn Chei, Sahabat Rakyat Pung Yee Yen, Hindraf 2.0 leader Uthayakumar; from front of the right row: Sahabat Rakyat Working Committee members Ang Pei Shan, Nyam Kee Han, Yong Siew Lee and the son of Nyam and Yong, Nyam Li Jun. Uthayakumar told us that today’s event has greatly motivated him and his team. They hope to hold a similar event every few months to continue voicing the problems of the Indian community and continue striving for the rights and interests of the Indian ethnic group. We told him that "carry on the struggle against oppression" is the correct approach for Hindraf 2.0. However, Hindraf 2.0 or the Indian ethnic group cannot do it alone. They must unite with other oppressed groups and fight together in order to be freed from the oppressed position.
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