The Indian poor in Malaysia : problems and solutions

Abstract

There is a growing concern among the Indians in Malaysia over the problems faced by the Indian poor. This concern is evident for example, among students in tertiary institutions, among recent and not- so-recent graduates from such institutions as well as others. This is an encouraging development for concern fuels action, and it is undeniable that the poorer Indians in this country do require much help so as to better help themselves. But action can take many forms. There are actions which may be ineffective and even actions which can be harmful. Action motivated by blind chauvinism or gut reaction, for example, may be harmful to the real interests of the Indian poor in the long run. Concern or good intentions alone do not guarantee the correctness or effectiveness of one's actions. To be effective, action must be guided by a profound and balanced understanding of the problems at hand. Otherwise, good intentions and efforts may go to waste. These brief notes are an attempt to pull together the reflections of various people concerned with these issues who have discussed them. we have tried both to define the problems faced by the Indian poor and to suggest broad lines of action to tackle them. These notes naturally, do not and cannot amount to a complete set of solutions. They are, however, intended to stimulate thought and discussion. For only when there is serious dialogue among those concerned, will such concern come to be guided by a deeper understanding of what actually needs to be done. We hope that these notes will help in providing a basis for initiating this much needed dialogue.