He said he had organised such a dialogue and, on behalf of Pakatan Harapan, presented the views of the Indian community for inclusion in the national initiative.

“I don’t think Denison is aware of this,” he told FMT, referring to sociologist Denison Jayasooria of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Jayasooria recently complained that no Indian-based political party or major Indian-based civic organisation had hosted public discussions on 12MP. He said it was now too late to incorporate ideas from the community. The plan will be unveiled in Parliament on Sept 27.

Santiago said he had planned for another round of talks but had been prevented from doing so by the enhanced movement control order.

He said the dialogue he organised last December was attended by 60 people, including Ipoh Barat MP M Kula Segaran, two assemblymen and representatives of various civic groups.

The subjects discussed included Indian SMI and entrepreneurship, education, unemployment and statelessness.

One of the participants was Gunasegaran Kandasamy, who coordinates a coalition of Indian NGOs.

Speaking to FMT, Gunasegaran pointed out that a press statement was issued following the dialogue and was carried in news portals and Tamil dailies.

The organisers keyed in their recommendations in the Economic Planning Unit’s portal for the plan on Jan 13, he said. “So you cannot say we did not do anything.”

He said he presented the findings last week to elected representatives from the Indian community.

“We proposed to them to work together and focus on economic empowerment and environmental sustainability,” he said.