Comments from Malaysia Insider in Uthaya's Party

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The Malaysian Insider
Monday July 20 2009
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Uthayakumar sets out to create Indian clout with new party


Uthayakumar is mobbed by his supporters during today’s launch of the latest Indian-based party, Human Rights Party Malaysia. –
Picture by Baradan Kuppusamy
By Baradan Kuppusamy

KLANG, July 19 — P. Uthayakumar today launched his Human Rights Party Malaysia (HRP) before 3,000 cheering hardcore supporters by lambasting Umno for sidelining Indians for 52 years, while also training his guns on Pakatan Rakyat (PR) for winning on Indian votes but failing to help the community.

He said the cavalier attitude of Umno and PR towards Indians was because the community lacked political clout, and he is now offering a unique scheme where marginalised Indians could create this clout as well as pressure for public resources to uplift the community.
Under the scheme, Indians in certain states should re-register as voters in select constituencies where there are about 20 to 30 per cent Indian votes, he said.
“By doing this they would create Indian majority parliamentary and state seats in the country and can, if united, win the seats easily,” he said.
“We will use the clout created by controlling these seats to bargain for the community,” Uthayakumar said.

“We will no longer be political beggars,” he said to a standing ovation from supporters, who arrived from across the country, many of whom wore Hindraf’s saffron-coloured T-shirts. Uthayakumar, who wore a similar T-shirt with his fiancée, was mobbed by his supporters.
Uthayakumar, who is secretary general of the party, announced the names of state leaders at the function and vowed to fight on until the “last drop of my blood.”
“I will not betray you, I will not sell you for some crumbs and I will never give up the struggle,” he said to huge applause.

Elaborating on his scheme, he said DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and party secretary general Lim Guan Eng were classic examples of politicians who have “migrated” from their hometowns to fight and win and hold office in other states.

“We should be like them. We must create Indian power centres in all states, re-register ourselves in those constituencies and elect our own representatives to parliament,” he said.
“Only in that way can we create clout,” he said, adding that currently Indians were members in numerous political parties. “Our votes are split and we are dismissed as non-entities.”
He said the new party can win 15 parliamentary and 38 states seats if this scheme was implemented successfully.

“This is what we are going to do for the next two years …to get Indians to re-register in selected constituencies to create Indian community power centres,” Uthayakumar said.
Among the areas he identified are Padang Serai in Kedah; Ipoh Barat, Sungei Siput and Bagan Datuk constituencies in Perak and Ulu Selangor; along with Kota Raja and Klang in Selangor.
Uthayakumar spoke for nearly two hours, listing out all the grievances the Indian community suffers from – poverty, neglect, and marginalisation – and laid the blame at the feet of Umno.
“It is Umno that rules the country, it is Umno that decides who gets what and how much, not Barisan Nasional (BN),” he said. “Umno is the enemy but it is a very smart enemy and we have to watch out for it.”

Also present were DAP Teluk Kemang MP M. Manoharan, human rights lawyer N. Surendran and PR supporter David Balla who is the key financier of the new party.
Manoharan said he was there as counsel for Uthayakumar and added he takes the criticism of PR in his stride.
He urged party supporters to beware of Umno, which will work with the Special Branch to sow disorder, confusion and splits within the party.
Uthayakumar also lambasted the DAP for failing to resolve the woes of the villagers of Kampung Buah Pala in Penang.

About 30 Buah Pala residents were also in the audience cheering him on.
“Guan Eng can, with one just signature, settle the Buah Pala issue but he has refused to do so giving all kinds of excuses,” Uthayakumar said. “The reason is we are politically weak.”
He cited as example the sole DAP representative who could bring the PAS-led Kedah PR government to its knees by pulling out of the coalition over an abattoir to slaughter pigs.
“Just one man can do that…imagine 15 or 20 MPs (of our party) walking out. How much we can achieve,” he said.

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Comments (15)
Show/Hide comments
...written by jt, July 19, 2009
This is how racism began. First it was the Malays who were being "robbed" in their own country by immigrants. UMNO was created. Now, the Indians are using their "impoverishment" to rally the race against the respective state establishments. I don't believe what Uthaya is doing will uplift the Indian community. I believe he is building a personal clout which will be useful to political parties. Political defection, as has been seen, is lucrative business.

+6


...written by Observer, July 19, 2009
Oh no... not another MIC in the making.

+1


...written by JackJax, July 19, 2009
Aiyoyo, yet another Indian-based party? And here is a man who says the Indian vote is fractured. Talk about the ultimate irony.

+3


...written by G, July 19, 2009
You have a dream but 15 to 20 MP seats ...dont dream..work with Pakatan Rakyat and you will/may get this number of seats........ G Belfast

+1


...written by citizen, July 19, 2009
Uthayakumar, i think you wrongly calculated. You cannot form a political party without any experiences. Before became famous amang the indians after 25th Nov.2007, can you tell one of the indian comunity issues you settled, like squatter, eviction, unemployement. Dont play pupilist polirtics dan the huge crowd gather on that the not because of you, pls remember thoundands of problem the indian comunity of this country face through out BN regime. Dont be another pandhitan. If you smart , first you avoid to do mistake done by samyvellu. In samy leadership this indian comunity fragile, spilit until today. If you realy realise this, first thing you must do is, call all indian who split like ipf, mic,ppp,makkal sakti, nalla karuppan party,mindraf and others is to meet up, you faild to this At the same time, you talk aabout makkal sakti, you realy know that what is makkal sakthi. if you believe and respect the makkal sakti, another important task you must done if before form the party is, do road show asked peeople opinion about forming new political party.like you did it before the 25th Nov.2007 Another funny thing your today annoucment that, your new party going to centest 15 parliment seats and 38 states seat for next election is, i feel realy you are in wrong direction. dont compare DAP, they are veteran in politics. anoher funny thing is one of two seats is your target is Sungai siput and ipoh barat .this announcement clearly show that you are not matured in politics. Look like you are going to attack opposition and MIC and not UMNO ,MCA seats. Dont dick your own grave, be realistic.people are still with oppsition, any attempt by anybody to destroy the oppostion allies are sure be avoid by the people fo malaysia.

+0


...written by WAN, July 19, 2009
This is the most ridiculous plan I have heard about Malaysian politics. Yet, it has enough of a certain crazy appeal that I am compelled to wish Human Rights Party Malaysia good luck in all their endeavors. I don't think you guys will succeed but I would surely love to see you guys try

+0


...written by eklim, July 19, 2009
great man, move all the indians to one state, maybe perlis, n u may become the MB......otherwise u will only be mr opposition n can only collect crumps !! but then u will rule the poorest state without being able to provide for yr indian citizens !! n subsequently, the other races will move to that state to re-take control; what a strategy ..... unless u are able to move india to malaysia !! come on man ........... its all for yr own ego n self interest !!

+2


...written by Bluemoon, July 19, 2009
This spinning auta who deripved inspiration from Sri Langka's tiger still thinks that this country can be turned into greater india. He must be dreaming or living in the clouds. One may wonder where he got the statistics considering there there is no single seat in which indian constitutes the majority. With dwindling population of ess then 2% and about a dozen political parties which are indian based, Mr. Uthayakumar must be lucky if he gets enough nomination. Forget about contesting because his party would certanily be trounced and lost the deposit. While the whole country is rejuvenating with equality for all, this racist goon, unfortunately is talking about his race, skin and colour. What a pathetic!

+1


...written by Eskay, July 19, 2009
That's a jolly good idea, Mr. P. Uthayakumar. Better still if you can get all the Indians to live and work in either Perlis or Negeri Sembilan or in both the states. With this mass migration, Indians would be a majority race there and the chances will be very bright for you and other Indian leaders to become the first Indian Menteris Besar in Malaysia. Good luck to you.

+3


...written by Paul Warren, July 19, 2009
Uthaya, I've said this to Samy and MIC before. Now I say it to you and PAHAM. Sto politically representing Indians. Only in Malaysia the Indian diaspora is politically represented. And look at the shit they are in. Every where else we have the Vjijay Singhs, The Mittals and you even have those heading the Pepsicola Company and several others....They are all not politically represented. Than you for your offer...now jus tleave the Indians alone...You are only hijacking them.

+1


...written by KB, July 19, 2009
This Uthayakumar is a political novice and making a fool of himself. Ask Indians to re-register to form the majority in certain seats? Come on man, it's the same stupid, simplistic idea like his "one stroke of the pen to solve Kg. Buah Pala issue". You want to register for another constituency, you have to shift there loh...and change your I.C. to update the address on your I.C. He thinks Indians going to uproot themselves for his politival party to serve his political interest? Human rights party indeed! I haven't heard him say one word about Teoh Beng Hock. Maybe Teoh is not Indian so this race blind person cannot see the human abuse on poor Teoh. Making your party multi-racial is academic. Who from other races going to join if you can only see through an Indian lens?

+1


...written by samson, July 19, 2009
It is sad to note that Uthyakumar is forming another race based party which will cause further divisions among Indians.In which constituency are Indians majority ?An Indian candidate whether BN or PR still needs the support of the Malays and Chinese.This is the reality in this country.Please bear this in mind.The only alternative for the Indians ,who were discriminated by the UMNO bastards is to unite under Pakatan Rakyat ,where our voice will be heard.Pakatan rakyat under DSAI is getting stronger day bya day and UMNO is very worried .Please give PR some time and they cant do any miraculous as the Federal Govt is still under corrupted BN.As a learned lawyer Mr Uthya is in a better position to explain the truth to the Kg.Pala residents of Penang and not to blame DAP.The whole mess was created by the then Gerakan(Bn) under Mr Koh Tsu Koon .Uthyakumar should think logically and rationally taking into consideration the various unique situation of this multiracial country before forming another race based party .Perhaps he has his own personal agenda .

+0


...written by Rakyat, July 19, 2009
HRP will die off eventually just like PPP.

+0


...written by Akam, July 20, 2009
Let's the migration to Perlis begin! Yay to Ultrakumar! Not Ultra...Ultakumar. What a rubbish selfish political snake. With one stroke of pen, you can give free lands to all Indians who move to Perlis! maybe you can vote to change the Perlis constitution too.

+0


...written by OrangRojak, July 20, 2009
How disappointing. I was very excited by the prospect of a 'Human Rights Party', but it's just a fancy name for another MIC, it seems. Just another sad event in Malaysia's political history.

+0