While many may agree that Badawi's decision to make Thaipusam a national holiday is a clear indication of the incumbent government's care and attention to the needs and interests of the ethnic Indian community in Malaysia, I feel that such an act is long overdue, as well as, inadequate in the long run.
To begin, it has come to my understanding that the Indian community have proposed the said request to the government since 1986. If, for a moment, we gave the benefit of the doubt and assumed that the government is indeed caring and sensitive to the needs of the Indians, why has it taken more than 20 years to decide on the matter? This is certainly not an attribute of a government who cares for its people.
On top of that, I have great doubts over the government's intentions, as well as their overall sincerity to improving the Indian community. The issue that bothers me most is that, had HINDRAF not create so much hype or if the prospects of a general election were not present, would the said implementations still be made by the incumbent government? Is the act of declaring Thaipusam a national holiday truly for the betterment of the Indian community or is it merely another ploy by the government to appease them for the sake of receiving greater support in the coming general elections?
Furthermore, it can be contested that a positive act by the government now will merely be offset by a negative act in the future. For instance, although Thaipusam is made a national holiday it does not change the fact that the demolition of more Indian temples and schools or any other detrimental policies to the Indian community could take place in the long run, hence, putting the Indian community in the status quo ante.
To begin, it has come to my understanding that the Indian community have proposed the said request to the government since 1986. If, for a moment, we gave the benefit of the doubt and assumed that the government is indeed caring and sensitive to the needs of the Indians, why has it taken more than 20 years to decide on the matter? This is certainly not an attribute of a government who cares for its people.
On top of that, I have great doubts over the government's intentions, as well as their overall sincerity to improving the Indian community. The issue that bothers me most is that, had HINDRAF not create so much hype or if the prospects of a general election were not present, would the said implementations still be made by the incumbent government? Is the act of declaring Thaipusam a national holiday truly for the betterment of the Indian community or is it merely another ploy by the government to appease them for the sake of receiving greater support in the coming general elections?
Furthermore, it can be contested that a positive act by the government now will merely be offset by a negative act in the future. For instance, although Thaipusam is made a national holiday it does not change the fact that the demolition of more Indian temples and schools or any other detrimental policies to the Indian community could take place in the long run, hence, putting the Indian community in the status quo ante.
As much as I would like to give the Barisan National administration my benefit of the doubt on this matter, it is most unfortunate to note that they have blown their chances to prove themselves with one too many fiascoes, hence, losing my vote of confidence for them.
