(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): I wish all Malaysian Hindus Happy Deepavali.
Let 2000 Deepavali - "Festival of Light" - declare the marginalisation of Malaysian Indians and the socio-economic, educational and cultural grievances of the community as a form of "darkness" to be conquered by Malaysians of all races and faiths and be the start of the restoration of light and justice to Malaysian Indians.
In the fifth decade of Malaysian nationhood and the first year of the new millennium, there is a deep sense of despair in the Malaysian Indian soul and this cry for light and justice must be recognised and responded by all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or political opinion - for there can be no light and justice for Malaysia without light and justice also for the Malaysian Indians.
Parliament should end its neglect of the problem of the marginalisation of the Malaysian Indians as an underclass and the urgency to reinstate them in the mainstream of Malaysian development by placing them as priority items of its parliamentary agenda.
A Royal Commission of Inquiry comprising multi-ethnic representation of eminent and respected Malaysians should have been established long ago to propose a blueprint to end the underclass status of the Malaysian Indians in the country - but this has yet to receive official acknowledgement.
In this first Deepavali of the new millennium, DAP calls for an all-party and national movement for Malaysians to rise above their ethnic, religious and political differences to ensure that Malaysian Indians can take their rightful place in the mainstream of Malaysian development as an integral part of the battle for light and justice in the country.
(25/10/2000)