Thousand pities that Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s announcement yesterday of Thaipusam as a public holiday is seen as highly opportunistic and self-serving to salvage Samy Vellu’s political life and Barisan Nasional’s political fortunes in the coming polls than the start of a serious and genuine national commitment to end the long-standing marginalization of Malaysian Indians as the new underclass in the country.

Although the Prime Minister had said at his Ponggol speech in Bukit Bintang on Saturday that he would consider the call to make Thaipusam a public holiday, it was clear that he had decided to use the “Thaipusam a public holiday” as a gambit to restore the political stocks of Samy Vellu and the Barisan Nasional among the two million Malaysian Indians, which was why there was the front-page story in the Star on Friday “PM to hold BN council meeting on polls” which reported: “On Sunday, Abdullah will meet 20,000 MIC members and supporters at the Cheras Badminton Stadium where he is expected to make a major announcement.”

No wonder one widespread comment and reaction to Abdullah’s announcement is that the Hindraf had been achieve in one rally on Nov. 25 what Samy Vellu had failed to do in more than 28 years as MIC President and sole Indian Cabinet Minister.

I do not completely fault Abdullah for trying get political, general election and voter mileage over the “Thaipusam as public holiday” gambit, as this has become too ingrained in the Barisan Nasional political culture where people’s legitimate demands and aspirations are only given some consideration when there is a general election around the corner or a by-election in tow.

In fact, this is the time for Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, culture, language, group, NGO or even individual to reiterate their various outstanding demands and aspirations for the next 50 days before the holding of the 12th general election is the best window of opportunity for their voice and demands to be heard and heeded by the Barisan Nasional Governmentg. Sad but true!

Abdullah had promised to be different when he became Prime Minister with his refreshing call four years ago to Malaysians “to work with me and not for me” – but he has proven to be a great disappointment as he is no different from other politicos in the Barisan Nasional in the past four years.

However, Abdullah and his political advisers, particularly the Putrajaya Fourth-storey boys and Samy Vellu, must be faulted for their cynical belief that the “Thaipusam as public holiday” gambit is sufficient to assuage and address the deep and widespread national grievances of the Malaysian Indians at their long-standing political, economic, educational, social, cultural and religious marginalization as to become a new underclass in Malaysia.

Even the announcement of Thaipusam as a public holiday fell far short of expectation – for Abdullah only announced Thaipusam as public holiday for Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Federal Territories when he had raised hopes that Thaipusam would become a national public holiday.

Abdullah’s “Thaipusam as public holiday for FT and Putrajaya” is too little and too late as it failed to meet the minimal kick-off needed to address the long-standing marginalization of the Indians in Malaysia as to become the new underclass in the country, which I had spelt out in a media conference in Parliament on 4th December 2007, viz:

• End the Barisan Nasional denial syndrome and openly acknowledge the fact and reality of the crisis of long-standing marginalization of the Malaysian Indians as to become a new underclass in the country;

• Establishment of a Cabinet Task Force headed by the Prime Minister himself on a New Deal to end the marginalization of Indians and all marginalized groups;

• Conversion of all the partially-aided Tamil primary schools into fully-aided schools;

• An immediate RM500 million allocation to upgrade the facilities and standards of Tamil primary schools; and

• A one-year moratorium for an end to all demolition of Hindu temples and all places of worship in all states in the country.

It is not too late for Abdullah and Samy Vellu to make amends in the next 48 hours in time for Thaipusam on Wednesday.

Both Abdullah and Samy Vellu should both openly admit the long-standing political, economic, educational, social, cultural and religious marginalization of the Malaysian Indians, announce a New Deal to ensure that Malaysians Indians enjoy an equal and rightful place under the Malaysian sun as well as the immediate and unconditional release of the five Hindraf leaders and activists under the Internal Security Act.