HINDRAF’s divorce from Pakatan Rakyat likely to divide Malaysian Indian votes

KUALA LUMPUR - The parting of ways between the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and Pakatan Rakyat, the allies of the 2008 general election, is set to divide the Malaysian Indian community’s votes in the next general elections.

HINDRAF has become Pakatan Rakyat’s worst enemy after staging a demonstration against the coalition outside the office of Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Led by HINDRAF leader P. Uthayakumar, almost 300 protesters carried banners and placards and alleged that Indian woes were not being addressed in Pakatan-ruled states.

“We wanted to submit a memorandum to Anwar personally but he did not turn up to meet us. We don’t trust them (Pakatan) any more. We are charting our own course and will contest under our own banner in the next general election,” The Star Online quoted Uthayakumar, as saying.

Uthayakumar’s was infuriated because Pakatan was yet to address poverty among Indians, and it also failed distribute land for Tamil schools and Hindu temples.

“If they issue land titles to Tamil schools in Pakatan-ruled states, then the schools become eligible to be classified as fully-aided and qualify for financial support from the federal government,” he said.

“They can do it with one stroke of the pen but they have not. We are very disappointed,” he added.

Uthayakumar has gathered all his former Hindraf supporters under the yet-to-be-registered Human Rights Party (HRP).

However, two of his old colleagues, P. Vasantha Kumar and V.S. Ganapathi Rao, who were in Kamunting under the Internal Security Act with the founder, have joined forces with Pakatan and strongly condemned the demonstration.

“He is out of his mind. His actions will split the Indian vote and benefit Barisan Nasional,” said Vasantha Kumar. (ANI)