Indian Malaysian youths want the government to move past ethnic-based politics toward outcome-driven governance.

In an Iman Research report titled “Kami Orang Sini Juga: Indian Youth and Democratic Belonging” unveiled yesterday, youths interviewed stressed that symbolic gestures are insufficient to secure the political trust of the community.

Instead, they said the government should earn the community’s trust through real policy reform and providing institutional equity instead of embarking on "headcount representation" and seasonal handouts.

Citing an example, one respondent from Malacca attributed the appointment of PKR vice-president R Ramanan as human resources minister in 2025 to political calculation rather than a genuine effort.