INDIANS MUST
BE WARY OF NAJIB’S NAMBIKEI
“Nambikei” is a word
now frequently used by Prime Minister Datuk Sri najib Tun Razak. Najib first
used nambikei at the 65th
MIC General Assembly in August. Literally, nambikei means believe, trust, confidence and hope.
After 54 years under Barisan Nasional – UMNO hegemony, Najib wants Indians to
continue to place their nambikei in
Najib and Barisan Nasional.
Nambikei as the the rallying call of Najib has become important
because in the 2008 General Election, Indians for once had the gumption and the
cojonnes to abandon Barisan Nasional. For once, Indians braved and cut their
umbilical cord with MIC.
With almost
850,000 Indian voters, 70 % of them living and voting in 50 parliamentary
constituencies where Indians form as much as 20% of the voters, nambikei takes a greater importance not
only for Najib but importantly for the survival of Barisan Nasional.
From the
regular stage managed appearances at Indian events, to the cheerful
announcement by Najib that he loves thosai and murrukus, granting 1642
citizenship to Indians (wonder how many Indonesians became citizens during the
same period these 1642 Indians were waiting for the citizenship), formation of
a task force to look into the problems faced by the Indian community ( after 54
years ) does not hide the fact that Najib and Barisan Nasional is desperate to
regain the Indian votes. Indians must not be hoodwinked by the sudden
benevolences by Najib and Barisan Nasional.
If Najib and
Barisan Nasional has “found” Indians, it is all because of general election
2008 and the rise and effect of Pakatan Rakyat. Najib and Barisan Nasional
realize that their survival in the next general election depends on Indian
voters and their votes, thus the nambikei
cry from Najib.
For more
than 50 years, Indians had placed their nambikei in Barisan Nasional. Indians
became Barisan Nasional’s fixed deposit.
Alas, the gains never reflected the deposit. The Indian community gave so much
and gained so little, progressed so little but only to be mired in a quagmire.
Indians must
never make the mistake of the past but realize that any small measures now by
the Barisan Nasional government is the a result of what the community
collectively did in 2008. Some Indians may lament that nothing much has changed
for the Indians even under Pakatan Rakyat, but Pakatan Rakyat has only been
around for 4 years and is a work in progress as compared to 54 years of Barisan
Nasional. Still, in the four short years of Pakatan Rakyat, Indians have benefitted
much. For a change, with Pakatan Rakyat, it is Barisan Nasional that is
desperate in seeking Indians. Thus, this is is not a time to abandon Pakatan
Rakyat, for to believe in the nambikei
is a return to Barisan Nasional, which may only mean the return to the status
quo – Indians being ignored !
Indians,
instead must make the nambikei-man to redress and correct the injustices of 54
years by Barisan Nasional against Indians.
