MIPP: Ditch 'mandor' system, PM should head proposed Indian committee

The Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) has called on the prime minister to lead the proposed Indian Community Action Committee, as he would be able to implement all the decisions made.
Its deputy president S Subramaniam said any attempts to rope in another Indian leader to head the committee would only create a 'mandor' system.
'Although no official announcement has been...

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Focus Malaysia

a day ago

• Focus Malaysia

Ramasamy: Mandor system should not be blamed but those behind the system of subservience

THE Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) deputy president S. Subramaniam has suggested that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim heads the Indian Community Action Committee (ICAC) rather than appointing Indian mandor from PKR or the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led coalition. Editor's Note: On Monday (June 16), a source told Malaysiakini that Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan would be appointed chair of a newly formed committee to look into the interest of Malaysian Indians. The mandor system was used by British planters during the colonial period in which Indians mandor or supervisor were appointed to manage the labour affairs. The mandor might be a South Indian Tamil but he took instructions from the white managers in managing labour affairs in the plantations. Unlike the Chinese kepala who had the material interest of Chinese labour, the Indian mandor functioned on behalf of the plantation bosses. My book on plantation labour describes in detail that Chinese contract labourers earned higher wages than Indian labourers because the former who operated under the kepala system provided better material incentives than the mandor system. 'Blame non-Indians elites' The political relevance of the analogy of mandor system was first used by the HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force) leaders to describe and belittle Indian leaders who functioned on behalf of the Chinese and Malay leaders in DAP and PKR. The use of the mandor analogy is to show that Indian leaders in the PH-led coalition have no real power but are subservient to the non-Indian leaders. Subramaniam might be making a valid point by saying that Indian leaders in the government have no real power as it is being wielded by the Chinese and Malay leaders. However, I differ from Subramaniam on the point of Anwar himself heading the ICAC to channel financial benefits to the Indian community. While Subramaniam blames the Indian mandor, he has discounted the notion that the mandor phenomenon in the government is the consequence of the government adhering to the racist majoritarian policies. In other words, the Indian mandor is not the real problem but those non-Indian elite who manipulate the subservience of these leaders for their particular interests. Even if Indian leaders or mandor are not appointed, the result will be no different. It must be remembered that the crux of the problem is not the mandor system but those non-Indian leaders in power who make use of Indian leaders to camouflage the majoritarian racial and religious system for political expediency. Political camouflage Indian leaders or mandor are used by the non-Indian elite to impress upon the community of the existence of Indian representation. However, such a projection is nothing but a political farce. Unfortunately, this Indian representation in the form of Indian leaders playing second fiddle to non-Indian leaders does not augur well for the economic and political well-being of the Indian community. The pliant Indian leaders in the ruling coalition are a disgrace and humiliation to the Indian community that has immensely contributed to the nation in blood, sweat and tears. This is the reason why the Malaysian Rights Party (Urimai) makes it a point to chart an independent political course for the Indian community without being entrapped by the vicious mandor system that prioritises the interest of the elite of the majoritarian community at the expense of ordinary Indians and others in the country. At the core of the political struggle of Urimai is that Indians should be led by Indian leaders who are in a position to articulate the broader concerns of the community. Urimai definitely does not want to exchange one form of domination to another form. Urimai is open to coalition building but such an effort will be predicated on independence, integrity and dignity. It is not enough to decipher the vicious nature of the political system that has parallels with how plantation labour was controlled and exploited under the mandor system. The present Indian mandor leaders are no different from their earlier counterparts but serve different masters under different political circumstances. – June 20, 2025 Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.

Malaysiakini

a day ago

• Malaysiakini

Indian 'mandors' not the real problem

COMMENT | The Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP) deputy president S Subramaniam has suggested that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim head the Indian Community Action Committee (ICAC) rather than appointing Indian 'mandors' from PKR or the Pakatan Harapan-led coalition. The British planters used the 'mandor' system during the colonial period, in which Indian 'mandors' or supervisors were appointed to manage the labour affairs. The 'mandors' might be South Indian Tamil, but they took instructions from the white managers in managing labour affairs in the plantations. Unlike the Chinese 'kepala' who had the material interest of Chinese labour, the Indian 'mandors' functioned on behalf of the plantation bosses. My book on plantation labour describes in detail why...

The Sun

a day ago

• The Sun

Govts scramble to evacuate citizens from Israel and Iran

Hong Kong: Governments around the world are evacuating thousands of their nationals caught up in the rapidly spiralling Israel-Iran conflict, organising buses and planes and in some cases assisting people crossing borders on foot. Foreigners have rushed to leave both countries after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Friday targeting Iran's nuclear and military facilities, sparking retaliation from Tehran. With Israel's air space closed and the two countries exchanging heavy missile fire, many people are being evacuated via neighbouring countries. - Europe - European countries have already repatriated hundreds of their citizens from Israel. The Czech Republic and Slovakia repatriated 181 people, who were bussed to a neighbouring country and crossed the border on foot, the Czech defence ministry said. Germany scheduled flights for Wednesday and Thursday via Jordan, while Poland said the first of its citizens would also arrive back on Wednesday. Italian nationals were being offered a charter flight on Sunday from Israel to Egypt and then Italy, with non-refundable reservations set at 500 euros ($575) per adult. Greece said it had repatriated 105 citizens plus a number of foreign nationals via Egypt, while a private plane with 148 people landed in the Bulgarian capital Sofia on Tuesday. Hungary evacuated 21 citizens from Iran via Azerbaijan, mainly diplomats and their families, officials said. Bulgaria repatriated 17, and Slovenia two diplomats and their families. - United States - The US ambassador to Israel announced plans on Wednesday for evacuating Americans by air and sea. The embassy was working on evacuation flights and cruise ship departures for 'American citizens wanting to leave Israel,' Ambassador Mike Huckabee posted on social media. - China - China has evacuated more than 1,600 citizens from Iran and several hundred more from Israel. Its foreign ministry said on Thursday those efforts would continue. - Australia - Australia has started evacuating around 1,500 citizens from Iran and more than 1,200 from Israel, although missile barrages have made it too risky for civilian aircraft, its foreign minister said. 'We have taken the opportunity to get a small group of Australians out of Israel through a land border crossing,' said Foreign Minister Penny Wong. - Mexico - Mexico said it had evacuated 18 people from Iran to Azerbaijan, both Mexican nationals and family members. - Pakistan - Pakistan has shut its border crossings with neighbouring Iran, except to Pakistanis wanting to return home. Around 3,000 Pakistanis have crossed the border from Iran since the conflict started, foreign ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said on Thursday. The families of diplomats and some non-essential staff from Iran have also been evacuated. - India - Around 110 students who fled Iran over the land border with Armenia have landed in New Delhi, an Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said Thursday. There are around 10,000 Indian citizens in Iran. New Delhi also said it planned to evacuate all Indian nationals in Israel who wish to leave. There are around 30,000. - Japan - Japan has ordered military planes to be on standby for around 1,000 Japanese nationals believed to live in Israel, and around 280 in Iran, according to government ministers. - Indonesia - Indonesia is preparing to evacuate around 380 of its citizens currently in Iran by land, Jakarta's foreign minister said Thursday. At least 11 Indonesians in Israel have also asked to leave. - Vietnam - Vietnam, which has more than 700 citizens in Israel and dozens in Iran, said it was working to ensure their safety. The foreign ministry said on Thursday that 18 Vietnamese from Iran were evacuated, 16 of whom returned to Vietnam. It did not provide further information on evacuations from Israel. - Philippines - The Philippines is preparing to repatriate 28 Israel-based Filipino workers out of 178 who asked for help, the Department of Migrant Workers said on Thursday. At least 21 Philippine government officials have also crossed into Jordan by land from Israel, the foreign ministry said.