Dr Prashanth says it is not the people who have brought about any of the problems related to the state of racial relations in the country.
“Here’s the problem. It’s not the people, it’s the system. When we kick out this or that politician, we are simply treating symptoms. We aren’t going to the root of the problem, the real disease,” said the 33-year-old who said he was “Malaysian first, Indian second”.
In the article written by Malaysian author Karim Raslan, the doctor said that one way to overcome such a “disease” is through communication.
“The real key to overcoming our differences is language. I can speak English, Malay, Hokkien, Mandarin, Tamil and I even picked up Russian when I was studying. We need to make that effort to communicate with each other.
“It’s the same with our bodies. Cells must communicate with each other to function. When the signals between cells break down, that is when you have problems,” Prashanth was quoted as saying by SCMP.
“Take cancer for example. Cancer happens when the cells in our body experience uncontrollable growth instead of dying out like regular cells. The political issues that are dividing our country today, is like a cancer afflicting our nation.”
Being born and bred in Penang and working at a hospital there, Prashanth also commented on the rapid rate of development in the island.
“It’s over-development. Yes, the economy is being stimulated, but things are moving too fast and without proper consultation.”
“When you exercise, you develop muscles. It’s good for you, strengthens your body. But take on too much too quickly and your body will suffer for it. There is always a price to pay,” he said, according to SCMP.
Growing up Malaysian
Getting back to the issue of race, Prashanth is hopeful that the next generation will grow up as “Malaysian first”.
“Now that I have a daughter, I am thinking of her future. I don’t want her to grow up Indian. I want her to grow up Malaysian,” he was quoted as saying.
He said it was easier for him to see the big picture working as a doctor, as he sees everyone as patients, nothing more.
“I want to serve Malaysians, no matter their race or creed or class. If we could let go of race-based politics, then Malaysia would be a much better place.”
Prashanth lamented the state of the Indians in the country, adding however, that it is the community itself which is partly to blame.
“Indians are even more divided. To this day it matters to many people if you are Brahmin or Shudra, Tamil or Punjabi, Sri Lankan or a ‘real’ Indian.
“My wife is a Punjabi Hindu. For some Indian-Malaysians, it is practically an ‘interracial’ marriage,” he said, questioning where such division has brought Indians.
“Nowhere. The Indians used to serve as clerks and secretaries in the civil service. Nowadays, that is exceedingly rare.”
“This country became rich on rubber [harvested] on the backs of Indian labour. But more than 60 years on, the average Indian is still struggling.”
Kingmaker
In his summation on the issue of Indian votes in the 14th general election, Karim writes in the SCMP about how issues afflicting the community will be brought up again with lot of promises churned out by both sides of the political divide.
“Being distributed across the country, the Indian-Malaysian community has the power to again be kingmaker in closely contested races.
“But will their lot necessarily improve? The community has seen multiple ‘saviours’ pass them by, namely MIC, which is part of the ruling coalition, the Hindraf activists, and now the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan.
“Each election has seen the same promises dangled before them with little to show for it,” the SCMP reported.