A voice from the ground By MARTIN VENGADESAN

JANAKEY Raman Manickam is not an impartial academic nor is he a politician with vested interests. He is a bona fide grassroots activist who has spent most of his life doing social work in the increasingly bleak environment of Malaysia’s rubber estates.

Born in Java Selangor Estate in Batang Berjuntai, Selangor, Janakey worked for 35 years to improve conditions for the impoverished and disenfranchised, dealing with estate, squatter, unemployment and cooperative issues.

While he believes that all Malaysians should progress together, the bulk of his work has been with the Indian community, whom he believes to be particularly neglected and displaced.

Now in semi-retirement, he has compiled his studies in The Malaysian Indian Dilemma. Initially published in Tamil in 2006, the book has now been translated into English.

Dilemma is enlightening and well-timed, given events over the last two years which focus on Indian-centric issues, from the Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) protests to custody deaths (brought to the fore by the death of A. Kugan earlier this year), disputes over the future of the Indian Studies Department of Universiti Malaya and most recently, the provocative anti-temple protest in Shah Alam involving the decapitation of a cow.

These aside, Janakey feels the problems of the Indian community date back to post-independence.

“All the Malaysia Plans in the 1950s and 60s, and even the New Economic Policy post-May 13 scenario seemed to have the aim of protecting and boosting our agricultural sector.

“However, over time, the focus shifted more and more to industrialisation and those in the plantation sector were left behind,” he says.

“People think the rubber estates have always been a source of poverty and hardship for our workers, but that’s not true. Although many workers first started out under inhumane conditions in the late 1800s, estates grew into thriving communities with many amenities and social safeguards.

“When the government began to move away from rubber, and the large estates slowly disappeared, people were left without work and training, and that is how a lot of the social ills began.”

For example, he adds, the new administrative capital of Putrajaya was built on what used to be the Prang Besar estate, a huge settlement. “Now there is nothing there for those who were displaced.”

He thinks the Indian community should not just sit back and expect to be prosperous. “No doubt there are Indians who have worked hard and come up. Education and training are the keys.”

Janakey Raman Manickam... not on any side of the political struggle.

Janakey, who was “always taught not to look at a person’s colour”, feels it is crucial for Indians to be fully integrated into Malaysia. The feeling of marginalisation exists not just in Malaysia with its Indians, but all around the world with minority communities.”

Dilemma contains numerous maps, charts and photographs detailing the Indian migration to Malaysia and the community’s unique position in the rubber plantations, railways, as well as the civil service. It also traces the history of the labour movement and the rise of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC).

“The National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) and the MIC were set up to defend the rights of the people but they were destroyed from the inside,” Janakey says.

“I am not on any side of the political struggle. What I believe is that the government and the MIC under Tun Dr Mahathir and Datuk Seri Samy Vellu let down the Indian community. But the opposition also just talks in Parliament.

“You must go to the ground to understand the people’s problems. I find that too many politicians just like to talk about emotional issues like Tamil schools and temples. I will support and work with anyone who is sincere about improving the lot of our estate workers and the squatter population.”

In fact, Janakey’s views are best summed up in his dedication to Malaysia’s unknown “soldiers”:

“This book is dedicated to all labourers who have sacrificed their lives, families and dreams to develop Malaysia from a jungle into a beautiful, prosperous nation.”

The Malaysian Indian Dilemma (ISBN: 9834297602) is available through the Nationwide Human Development and Research Centre. Call 013-392-7727 or email malaysianindiandilemma@yahoo.com for details.

Warm Regard, Sara Pandian