Bernama reports that the PM met up with 13 Indian NGOs today and held a discussion to discuss current developments in this country. To summarise, this are the main points:

Promises and advice by PM

• Peace and stability vital in this country
• Narrowing the socio-economic amongst various communities
• Explained action taken by government to uplift Indians socially and economicaly
• Explained about Hindraf
• PM says no promises but listened to the views of the members present

Readers may condemn me as being cynical, but what good came out of this meeting. I thought MIC is submitting reports every 6 months, and did not these report bemoan the short-comings of the community. What the NGOs should have asked is what plans and proactive plans have been done, what plans have been carried out, and on outstanding plans the reasons for such shortcomings. I am sure Datuk Seri would have carried his file of reports to the PM.

Matters brought out by NGOs

Surprisingly, only one issue, the bashing of Hindraf, the NGOs disagreed with the way Hindraf used demonstrations to voice its views and claims, specifically ethnic cleansing of the Indian community.

They roped in Datuk N.Siva Subramaniam, I don’t know why. Did he raise any issues pertaining to human rights and the chemical water and tear gas the supporters of Hindraf had to go through.

Of course it is easy to say, lots of things were discussed and this will be in the minutes, if there is one, but what Indians who read this news item, can assume is, nothing much was discussed, but the normal chat with a cup of tea and cakes. The PM spoke, we listened. But then we had to say something and what is more pleasing to the ears of the PM than the bashing of Hindraf. Possibly, here I say possibly, the NGOs could have lightened the burden of the PM who a day or two days earlier had ISA approval to detain the 5 people.

Current developments also involved detention under ISA. Was this ever brought out?

Sometimes doing damage control is a positive and welcomed action. At the same time it can be a double-edged sword, meaning, it can cut in the wrong way.