Since the days of the Alliance, Indian voters have been known to be loyal to the ruling party, with the majority casting votes for the ruling party.Lately, following several developments involving the community, many are prompted to perceive them as a sign of dwindling support for the Barisan Nasional (BN) in this general election. In particular, the MIC.

This follows feedback and reports that MIC candidates in general, were being snubbed by many Indian voters.

In the 2004 general election, the MIC won all nine parliamentary and 19 state seats. Come Saturday, the party is contesting the seats in the general election.

But, what are its chances of making a clean sweep again.

According to several political leaders, the situation on the ground has taken on a positive note, following reassurances by national leaders at "ceramahs" (political speeches) that the Indian community's well-being was being looked after by the government.

On its part, the government has shown its sincerity by fullfiling many requests from the community.

It has declared Thaipusam a public holiday in the Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Federal Territories. Recently, Education Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein announced that three more partially-aided Tamil schools would be upgraded to fully-aided.

The Federal Government, together with several state governments, has also promised to look into requests made by the Indian community to allocate land for various Tamil schools.

On his part, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the state government has allocated 0.8ha land for the expansion of Batu Ampat National (Tamil) Primary School in Klang.

It must be noted that the issue of Tamil schools has always been very close to the heart of the Indian community, where about 80 percent speak Tamil.

On the issue of temples in the country -- seen by many as one of the factors which angered Hindus -- the government has reassured that relocation of any temple would be done in a proper manner, and this was well-received by the Hindus.

In the meanwhile, the MIC has taken out advertisements in newspapers to explain that the party, along with the government, was the custodian of the Indian community and did not neglect them as alleged by the opposition.

As one of its achievements for the benefit of the community, it singled out the MIC-run Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University in Kedah.

Four days ago, MIC unveiled a host of statistics on various affirmative action plans in financial aid and other assistance provided to the Indian community to counter allegations by opposition groups that the community had been neglected by the government.

Among them were the RM100 million allocation under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to assist in the rebuilding of fully-aided and partially-aided Tamil schools, of which RM30 million was approved recently.

The community was also informed that the federal government allocated RM1 million annually for the building of temples, besides providing land for their establishment in various places.

In advertisements placed by BN in Tamil newspapers today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Hindu places of worship would be respected and protected, Tamil schools will be upgraded, more business opportunities would be offered to the Indian community, and efforts would be intensified to recruit more Indians into the civil service.

"(Overall) It (situation) has changed as compared to the earlier stage when there was a lot of anger and upset. The Indians are now willing to listen," said senior lecturer, Universiti Sains Malaysia's School of Social Sciences Dr Sivamurugan Pandian.

Social Strategic Foundation executive director Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria said there were major efforts on the part of BN leaders to reassure the Indian community that they have a place in Malaysian society.

Quoted From
BERNAMA 

Thursday, 06 Mar 2008