Kuala Lumpur, May 24 – For the last few days, MIC circles are abuzz with speculations as to who are the people behind the emergence of a new MIC group which is organizing a grand scale workshop on Malaysian Indian Blueprint development.
The workshop is being held today at a leading hotel in Kuala Lumpur and it is organized by “Human Capital Group Asia Limited” a professional consultancy firm. The workshop was originally scheduled to be held in Pullman Hotel, Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur but at the last minute was shifted to Imperial Sheraton Hotel in Jalan Sultan Ismail.
Although such workshops and forums are to be welcomed and timely in the awake of 11th Malaysia Plan, what is puzzling is only a selected group of people have been invited for the workshop.
No one knows which group is organizing this workshop and there have been questions as to why this workshop had to be shrouded in secrecy.
In their invitation, the organisers, Human Capital group Asia, has stated that they have been “retained to assist in the development of a blueprint for the Malaysian Indian community”, without naming their client.
So, naturally, questions have emerged as to who are the organisers who are suddenly so concerned about the Blueprint for Indian community, coming forward to organize this workshop in a posh hotel by engaging a leading consultancy firm, which is also said to be expensive in terms of their consultancy fees.
In the past, such workshops were commonly organised by MIC leadership and several Indian NGOs generally prepare and submit their views and recommendations at such workshops.
What is even more puzzling is several MIC leaders aligned to party President Dato Seri G.Palanivel have been invited for this workshop but all those aligned to party Deputy President Dr Subramaniam have been conspicuously omitted.
MIC sources said that several leaders from outstation are expected to attend this workshop and it is not known whether it will be a closed door workshop or open to media. MIC sources also claimed the workshop is being organised by the “New MIC” – a core group carved out of Palanivel’s supporters.
“Human Capital Group” – who are they?
A check at the internet revealed that Human Capital is a reputable consultancy firm based in Hong Kong with a branch in Kuala Lumpur. The company has named Rohn Rajen and Douglas Dean as the key members of the consultancy team.
Rohn Rajen, is a well-known motivational speaker and trainer in Malaysia and has appeared in local TV shows and interviews on several occasions.
Human Capital’s official website describes Douglas Dean as a “business development and branding expert….with over 20 years of experience in industry and consulting” and as “the main driver behind the formation and development of Human Capital Group Asia and the lead consultant for projects covering brand and business strategy”.
Naturally, questions have been raised as to why a third unknown group refusing to disclose their identity is organizing a workshop on Blueprint for Indians through a professional consultancy firm, when the 11th Malaysia Plan has already been announced.
11th Malaysia Plan fails to address Indian community’s woes
Generally, several Indian groups have raised concerns that the 11th Malaysia Plan has failed to address the burning issues faced by the Indian community and that there are no specific programmes outlined by the Prime Minister.
“11th Malaysia Plan – MIC leaders in government have failed the Indian community” – declared, headlines of Tamil Malar daily in its publication today, displaying photos of the 4 members representing MIC in BN government, namely Palanivel, Subramaniam, Saravanan and Kamalanathan. The Tamil daily also commented that the 11th Malaysia Plan does not contain any specific programme for the Indians and this is because the MIC and its leaders have failed to submit one to the government.
In a press statement that appeared today prominently in local Tamil dailies, Datuk N.Muniandy (pic), a MIC leader from Ampang MIC Division (Selangor) criticized MIC for not spearheading initiatives to ensure Malaysian Indian community’s role in 11th Malaysia Plan and he has blamed party President Palanivel for the debacle despite being President for the last 5 years.
Muniandy also questioned why a group purportedly from MIC is organizing the workshop today without inviting and getting the views of several key MIC leaders. “Who is Douglas Dean? What does he got to do with MIC? Why an American is getting involved in presenting the problems of Malaysian Indian Community?” – were some of the questions raised by Muniandy in his press statement today.
When the so called “Workshop on Malaysian Indian Blueprint Development” ends today, probably it may answer some of the questions surrounding the controversial workshop – or will it pose many more questions that need answers?
-R.Mutharasan
