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From P Ramasamy
My long-time friend Charles Santiago has rightly highlighted the phenomenon of misplaced loyalties among Indians in Malaysia.
Instead of rallying behind educators, social reformers, or politicians, many in the Indian working class have begun to idolise gang leaders, underworld figures, and other unsavoury characters.
This disturbing trend stems from a deeper crisis – a glaring absence of strong and credible leadership within the Indian community. The legacy of leaders who once fought for Indian rights and dignity has largely faded.
The late S Samy Vellu, despite his controversies, was the last figure to command widespread loyalty among grassroots Indians. Today, MIC is a shadow of its former self, more focused on managing party assets than advancing community interests. Meanwhile, Indian leaders in DAP and PKR appear to have surrendered Indian-specific concerns in the name of superficial multiracialism.
Santiago identified the problem, but fell short of addressing its root cause. The reverence for slain gangsters – often evident in massive funeral processions – is not merely about criminal notoriety. It reflects a yearning for powerful, defiant figures in a community long subjected to marginalisation and discrimination.
In the absence of legitimate leaders who challenge the system, gang leaders have come to embody rebellion and resistance. While their actions are often criminal and harmful, they represent, to some, a form of empowerment that mainstream leaders fail to offer. The power vacuum makes it almost inevitable that the rank and file gravitate towards figures who, rightly or wrongly, appear to resist authority.
To reverse this trend, the Indian community needs leaders who are brave, uncompromising, and committed to fighting for its dignity and rights within a deeply racist political system. Only by addressing this vacuum can we begin to shift loyalties away from underworld figures and towards genuine community champions.
Ultimately, the blame lies not with the community, but with a political system that has persistently denied Indians equal recognition, opportunity, and justice.
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P Ramasamy is the Urimai chairman.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
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