Non-Muslims Looked After

The Prime Minister said that non-Muslims were looked after and that various ministers in the Cabinet were charged with this responsibility. What a load of bullshit.

He was commenting on a request by Indian-based non-governmental organizations for the Government to form a non-Muslim Affairs Department to look after the interests of believers of other faiths. This request was brought up when they had a heart to heart meeting with the PM a few days ago in the hope that something concrete would be done. Looking at his reply, nothing is going to happen and that special meeting the PM called with the Indian based NGO's was an eyewash. Another political ploy to get votes.

I am sure all the Ministers mentioned by him would be flabbergasted to know that they were actually responsible for the religious problems of their ethnic groups. Those Hindu families that had problems with the Islamic Religious Department would certainly be surprised to know that all that while when they faced the rude officials from the Islamic Departments who had backup from the police, they actually had a hero Minister in the Cabinet who wasn't doing his job. When the dead body of their spouse was whisked away by the Islamic officials, when properties and accounts were frozen and placed under the Islamic Affairs Department, there was no Minister around to help them.

The proposal by the NGO's is a very sound one to help the non-Muslims in this country to sort out their religious problems with the Islamic Affairs Department. The Non-Muslim Affairs Department need to be empowered to be able to help the non-Muslims citizens of this country. We must have that right. Don't chicken out at this juncture Mr. Prime Minister.

The existing Ministers in the Cabinet have their own duties. The MIC leader does not have any influence to help the Indians. Just look what happened during this Deepavali. The UMNO General Assembly was held at the same time and no one went for the Open House. That is a slap in the face for the MIC leader Datuk Seri S. Samy Velu. Even the UMNO don't respect him!

There must be something wrong with the current system to cause more than 30,000 Indians from all walks of life to march down the street and demand for a better treatment. You have to take heed and come up with a better solution than make a sweeping statement like this :

“For instance, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting looks after the interests of the Buddhists, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu covers the Hindus and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok covers the Christians in the country.
“For the time being, this is quite effective and we have always been addressing the problems brought up by followers of the different faiths.
“We also have a National Unity Department which looks into matters relating to unity and the various faiths embraced by the various races in the country.
“In fact, we have always looked after the interests of non-Muslims and pay attention to any issue they may bring up to us,” he told reporters after visiting a kerepek factory in Kg Bukit Bangkong yesterday.

The march by the 30,000 or so Indians is an indication that all is not well with their lot and also that the existing system and the leadership is not functioning as expected. Then there is the problem of all the little Napoleons running the various government departments who have their own agenda which also needs to be addressed. The lack of non Malays in all various posts in the government service has added to the distrust of the government. The street demonstration is not about wanting more, or taking from others. This is exactly what our Deputy Prime Minister had in mind when he said, “We will not do anything that is seen as depriving other races of their rights. We will only demand whatever rights the bumiputra has. That is all,” Najib said.

The Indians want the same thing, education, jobs, business opportunities, housing etc.. The basic necessities is what they want. Not more not less. Is that too much to ask?