Contributors:Indian based NGO’s , NGO’s and concerned Individuals as follows:-

1. Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria & Mr.Teo Lee (Institute of Ethnic Studies)
2.Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam (CPPS, ASLI)
3.MIBA (P.Sivakumar ,Dr Sivamoorthy, Latch & Shan)
4. Tan Sri Ajit Singh(Member of the Indian Minister’s Global)
5. Dr Xavier Jayakumar (PKR)
6. Ragunath Kesavan (Former bar Council chair)
7.K.Arumugam (Chairman Suaram)
8.S.Pasupathi (Tamil Foundation)
9.Prof Emeritus Dato CP Ramachandran
10.Dato Pardip Kumar Kukreja(Pemudah)
11. V.Kumeresan (Builders Association)
12.Dato Siva Subramaniam (SITF)
13.Dr Michael Jayakumar(PSM)
14.Prof Dr Terence Gomez (Eco Faculty ,UM)
15. Prof KS Nathan (IKMAS-UKM)
16.Datuk Vathlingam (Former Hindu Sangam President)

MIBA hosted two public discussions on Indian community concerns on Sept 11, 2011 in English and subsequently on Oct 2, 2011 in Tamil (Klang). There was active participation from a cross section of the society especially among civil society leaders, politicians, business community and academicians.
There was overall consensus that there have been major attempts especially since March 2008 from both Federal & state governments to address the concerns of the Indian community. However it is also felt that these attempts are still ad hoc and service focused rather than addressing root causes and structural aspects which continue to widen the income gap disparity between the rich and the poor.
The meetings felt that many sections of the Indian community continue to feel a deep sense of alienation and strongly feel that political leadership and its achievements continue to fall short of the Indian communities rising expectations. There is therefore a serious gap that has to be addressed more effectively
Persistent Dilemmas
It was felt that there are major issues pertaining to access and equal opportunities . These are ongoing issues and has persisted over the years since independence. Some examples are:-

• Access to poverty eradication programs (ekasih and Azam)
• Access to public sector employment and promotional opportunities
• Access to micro credit loans and business training
• Access to places in post secondary education/training scholarships
• Access to housing

It was also felt that there were still major ongoing concerns pertaining to:-

• Low levels of educational achievement especially among children from urban poor and displaced plantation community especially in the passing rate in Bahasa Malaysia and securing a credit in BM
• High incidences related to anti social and dysfunctional families including crime, gang, alcohol related abuses ,domestic violence , detentions under EO and issues with enforcement agencies
• Unresolved land issues pertaining to displaced plantation workers/urban settlers and fragmented estates
• Feeling of alienation and marginalization including a perception of 3rd class citizens

It is strongly felt that a more structural change and addressing root causes approach be adopted in addressing the Indian concerns rather than short term hand outs and quick fixes
Alternative approach
There is a strong feeling amongst significant sections of the Indian community that we now need to shift away from an ethnic and race centric approach to approach the concerns of the neglected section from the perception of low income and bottom 40% of the Malaysian society
This is more realistic and accurate in capturing the real plight of the poor and low income. Furthermore this is reality, their struggles for survival-improvement of socio-economic aspects and overall improvement in the quality of life index which is more comprehensive and holistic
The approach is one based on human needs from a human rights and equal opportunities approach. The concerns of the poor irrespective of ethnicity ,religion,geographical location, gender must be our common concern. This approach will not divide the poor by racial or religious divide but their solidarity for a better society
The key for the Indian community is now to work across the racial divide and champion for a better Malaysia for all, where the majority of the poor and low income who are from the bumiputra community (Malays,indigenous people of Sabah & Sarawak and the Orang Asli) together with poor Indians and Chinese will benefit together consistent with the spirit of 1 Malaysia and national unity
Proposal & Future Possibilities
Peoples Audit on Social Progress
It is proposed that we initiate a grassroots movement of civil society and community based groups in undertaking a review of what is happening on the ground from the perspective of ordinary people. Often we have heard the views of people on the top but now the approach is to go to local neighborhoods and call on a cross section of the people to come and share their views. This is a people’s audit from their experience and perspective. We basically are creating a forum to them to share their concerns.
Also to hear views on how their concerns can be solved
Framework of Action
We establish a coalition of civil society from across ethnic and religious divide . We develop a basic framework based on meeting human need through a basic human need and human rights approach

• That the poor and low income at the bottom 40% must be consulted in developing policies and programs
• That we address the root causes than keep them poor
• That we provide equal opportunities with reference of income generation , education, health care, employment , business development , housing –using the basic quality of life indicators as developed by the UN guidelines-“A Human Rights approach to Poverty Reduction Stategies”
• That we divert hand out approaches towards economic empowerment and capacity building programs
• That we develop a good data base or enhance and optimize the current ekasih portal which is under the Implementation Coordination Unit of the PM Department
• That we foster the formation and development of grassroots organizations like cooperative movement and reduce over dependence on political parties and public sector

Methodology

• Enlist support and partnership of cross section of civil society and grassroots organization into MAP-Movement Against Poverty
• Form a secretariat
• Establish civil society panel for People’s Audit on Social Progress
• Organize grassroots visit and meeting people in affected geographical locations
• Host a series of public Town hall type of meetings in community halls at the grassroots across the country
• Document the sharing of people
• Monitor the performance of elected candidates and new candidates at all electoral levels and especially in areas where there is a higher concentration of people from the bottom 40%
• Produce a report on Voices of the people.

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