Analysis by Baradan Kuppusamy
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — The campaign to save Kampung Buah Pala in Penang from demolition is shaping into a big “do or die” battle for Hindraf, the banned movement whose fortunes have been on the decline in recent months for want of a rallying cause.
Saving Kampung Buah Pala is the new call to battle for Hindraf.
Hindraf founder P. Uthayakumar and his supporters are mobilising supporters across the country to rise up and protest the impending demolition of the village.
He is also personally visiting the village over the weekend and rallying his supporters to gather there to protest.
Any cause needs an enemy and unfortunately for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) this time it is the DAP and its alleged failure to “save” the village from demolition.
Previously it was Umno, for doing “nothing” for the Indians.
In both cases the key uniting element for the aggrieved Indian underclass was the sense of “betrayal” they suffered.
The Hindraf fight to save Kampung Buah Pala is similar to the movement's mobilisation to stop the demolition of the Mariamman temple in Kampung Karupiah, Padang Jawa in October 2007.
The demolition of this temple a week before Deepavalli was a key reason for the size of the mass protest on Nov 25, 2007 in the federal capital.
Uthayakumar hopes to revive his flagging fortunes and use the campaign to save Kampung Buah Pala, and once again capture the imagination of the Indian underclass.
It was thought, and rightly so, that freedom from ISA detention would lessen his appeal to the Tamil masses. Uthayakumar’s popularity among the Indian underclass dropped as seen in the smaller crowds attending his functions since his release in May.
Some of his key lieutenants have also called it a day while others have gathered under the Makkal Sakthi Party Malaysia banner headed by Hindraf's former national coordinator R.S. Thanenthiran.
Another reason for rallying around Kampung Buah Pala is that Uthayakumar is set to form a new political party called Parti Hak Asasi Manusia or Paham in Klang on July 19.
“My experience tells me and recent political developments prove it that we (Indians) need a third force,” he told The Malaysian Insider on Monday.
“We cannot rely on either Umno or Pakatan to help us,” he had said.
He said the Kampung Buah Pala incident is a “perfect example” of how Pakatan Rakyat in general and the DAP in particular had “washed their hands” of Indian problems.
“They have the power to right the wrongs but give excuses to act,” he said.
The Penang controversy which he hopes to capitalise on provides the perfect backdrop for the launch of his party.
His aim is to corral the Indian vote which, although is only about 10 per cent of the total electorate, plays a kingmaker role in about 60 parliamentary constituencies, and negotiate with PR or Barisan Nasional to uplift the Indian poor.
However the majority of Indians are now supporting the PR alliance, unlike before when they were with the MIC/BN.
This is why Uthayakumar is increasingly turning his guns on the PR coalition to show the Indians that the fledgling alliance is just another BN, unwilling to help Indians unless they unite under his banner and demand for their “fair share.”
The Hindraf protest campaign to “save” Kampung Buah Pala advances his cause and signals a parting of ways between Hindraf and PR.
Ironically, by damaging PR and weaning away Indian support from the alliance, Uthayakumar may unwittingly play into the hands of BN.
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It is unclear what he is fighting for. But it definitely shows what an idiot he is!