Courage and an honest approach are the steps the MIC needs in order to be ‘relevant’ to all Indians in the country. Of late, our confidence in the future of our children dropped drastically to the extent that thousands took to the streets peacefully to voice their discontent.

They demanded their right for equitable treatment in the very country of their birth. Constitutionally, their citizenship guarantees equality. They want their share of opportunities in commerce, education, the civil service as well as their social and religious rights.

Will the MIC or its president S Samy Vellu courageously champion this relevant cause? Samy is on the right track when he said in media recently that he will be reorganising the MIC to make it more effective and efficient in meeting the needs and demands of the Indian community.

The Maika meetings are reminders of when MIC members were denied their rights to raise or debate issues and were instead often threatened with bodily harm.

The MIC needs to be more open, democratic and allow more debates in all its dealings with the community and Indian-based NGOs. Allow them the liberty to express themselves freely without intimidation of any form. And not label anyone as a ‘traitor’ simply because they spoke up.

Take a look at our MIC parliamentary representatives. They are not even allowed to raise community problems and are punished with suspensions and even branded as racists (S Sothinathan and K Devamany).

So where else does one raise the problems of the Indian community - in coffee shops? Just imagine that in our Parliament - the very custodian that protects our democracy and freedom of expression - reps are warned to toe the line.

This is morally wrong because Malaysia is unique in its multi-ethnicity and the struggles of each community are different. Owing to this uniqueness, ethnic revival occurs every now and then when issues of ethnic rights, language, religion, minorities, poverty and nation-building are debated.

Tolerance and understanding need to be exercised and adequate time needs to be allocated to debate such relevant communal issues.

Samy also has to settle a long simmering 'issue' that has driven many MIC members out of the party. He too should invite back this 'issue' to unite all Indians for we can gain immensely if it speaks in one, strong voice, not two.

The writer is president, Malaysian Indian Business Association.