MIC leader: Leave race out of Bersih fight

Party secretary-general S Murugesan says there is no need to drag S Ambiga's race and religion into the dispute.

PETALING JAYA: There is no need to drag race or religion into the debate over the Bersih 3.0 rally, said MIC secretary-general S Murugesan.

Expressing his personal view on the matter, he criticised those who resorted to such demeaning actions against Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga to put their points across.

“We don’t have to agree with Ambiga or her method of doing things. However, there is no need to drag her race or religion into the disagreement.

“There is also no need for name calling or to resort to methods that encroach into her personal space,” he told FMT.

Murugesan said it also did not make sense to hold a demonstration to condemn demonstrations as two wrongs do not make a right.

“As Malaysians, we should must aspire for the nobler aspects of politics,” he added.

On the same note, Murugesan said he understood the feelings of the aggrieved stall owners who suffered losses as a result of the April 28 rally.

“But there are better ways of doing things,” he added.

Furthermore, the MIC leader said their actions were being attributed to Barisan Nasional, therefore tainting the image of the ruling coalition.

“This is clearly not the case and is doing more harm to BN then good,” he added.

A group of traders have planned to set up a night market outside S Ambiga’s house in Bukit Damansara on Thursday and Friday to protest the losses incurred during the rally.

Previously, vexed traders staged a burger protest while a group of ex-servicemen held a vulgar aerobic exercise outside her residence, which drew much flak from various quarters.

However, when an Indian-based NGO proposed to set up a thosai stall outside Deputy Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar’s house, Ambiga had asked them to reconsider, saying that private spaces must be respected.

The NGO agreed and called off its plan.

All eyes on the mayor

Meanwhile, Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar said all eyes were now on Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail.

He said Ambiga’s right to a peaceful living and her constitutional right to equal protection under the law were at threat.

Sivakumar said if the night market took place, then another group might set up a similar thing outside Fuad’s residence.

“I am sure the mayor will not like it,” he told FMT.

Sivakumar also could not understand why the issue had taken a racial twist, just because a civic- minded individual with legal background aspired to do something good for the nation.

He warned BN that such actions would lead to an electoral backlash.

“Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has been trying to reach out to Indian voters, but this type of attacks and intimidation against Ambiga will cost the coalition,” he added.

Sivakumar also said Miba failed to understand how these traders could claim to have lost millions due to the rally, especially on a Saturday.

“These are only petty traders. So this lent credence to the suspicion that there is more to this than meets the eye,” he said.