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Waytha says he met Najib 16 times to discuss Indian issues
Former Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy, on behalf of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), has called for the resignation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for his alleged “betrayal” of the Indian community.
“All components of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition should be ashamed of how the Prime Minister has cheated the Indian community by his inability to fulfil and implement the MOU/agreement he had endorsed.
“He can cheat the Indian community, but he will never be able to take away our dignity,” he said at a press conference here on Tuesday.
Waytha Moorthy was appointed Senator and then Deputy Minister after the 2013 general election.
Prior to that, Hindraf signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on April 18, 2013 with the government highlighting several issues.
Waytha Moorthy said he had met with Najib 16 times in the last 8 months to discuss fulfilling the agreement and his dissatisfaction over the matter.
“It was a lie when he said I did not discuss about my resignation with him. At each of these meetings, we discussed many things, including naming a new unit for me to head as well as the necessary budget that was agreed.
“However, it occurred to me that he is a weak leader who does not have the political will to make decisions and fulfil his promises.
“This is why he should step down and let someone who is more honourable and capable to lead the nation.”
Labelling Feb 10 (the day Waytha Moorthy resigned as the Deputy Minister and the next day as Senator) as a “black day” in the history of Malaysia, he said Hindraf’s initial participation in the BN government, amid criticisms, was for the agreement to materialise.
“It didn’t and experience showed that we were wrong for trusting Najib.
“He has committed a betrayal in historic terms to the entire Indian community that will not be forgotten for generations to come. This story will be told over and over.”
Hindraf refused to answer any questions from the press stating that there would be another press conference in the next few days where more details would be revealed.
‘Pakatan has championed Indian rights’
Meanwhile, in an immediate response, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice-President N. Surendran said the call for Najib to resign was nothing new, but said it wasn’t the answer for the Indian community.
“Asking Najib to resign is not as effective as BN being defeated at the polls and making way for a new government that will actually take the woes of the Indian community seriously.
“The Indian community can never prosper under BN.
“The call for Najib to end the woes of the Indian community has been championed by Pakatan Rakyat for a very long time,” he said when contacted by The Rakyat Post.
He said Waytha Moorthy had betrayed the Indian community when he asked them to stand by BN for GE13.
“I’m glad, however, that he has come to his senses and I hope he doesn’t betray the community again. He had caused damage in his attempt to exact change in this country and he has a long way to go to make up for what he did.”
‘He wanted budget for Indians be parked under him’
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, via his personal Twitter account, wrote: “Waytha Moorthy should not blame PM for his failures in effecting change. He was not a team player & wasn’t effective in advocating his cause.
“Whenever Waythamoorthy brought matters to the PM, they were resolved. Ask @mpkotabelud (referring to Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan) about housing problems for Indian community.
“Fact is, Waythamoorthy demanded all govt budget for Indian community be parked under his discretion. That’s not how govt operates. Waythamoorthy wanted to control the money, bypassing ministries & agencies. When he didn’t get this, he quit & blamed PM,” Khairy wrote.
MIC Treasurer-General Datuk S Murugessan told The Rakyat Post that Waytha Moorthy had no right to call for Najib to resign, arguing that unlike the former, Najib was elected by the people.
“Waythamoorthy was appointed to the post.”
Murugessan added that MIC had initially welcomed the Hindraf co-founder’s appointment, with the hope that he would strengthen Indian representation in the Cabinet, yet “didn’t see much movement”.
“What has he done? He also admitted his failure and it was his choice to resign.”