Riled up for calling Thaipusam street demo

MIC's Kamalanathan is furious with PAS' Salahuddin Ayub who equated Thaipusam to a street demonstration.

PETALING JAYA: Hulu Selangor MP P Kamalanathan has taken Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub to task for equating Thaipusam festival to a street demonstration.

“Equating this holy event to a street demonstration is both insulting and hurting to the Hindus. It also shows his attitude towards the Hindus or he just plain naive about the Thaipusam celebration.

“Either way I feel it’s his responsibility to clarify his statement or more appropriately apologise for making the statement,” Kamalanathan said in a posting on his blog today.

He was commenting on the points raised by Salahuddin, who is also PAS vice-president, during a debate entitled “Street demonstrations: Does it build or destroy democracy?” organised by Malay daily, Sinar Harian.

Salahuddin faced off Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah in the debate that was held on Tuesday night.

Salahuddin is also alleged to have said that Hindus carrying kavadi are semi-conscious and yet they do not need tear gas to keep the situation calm.

“Belittling the practices of another religion and calling the devotees semi-conscious street demonstrators show lack of understanding and respect for the Hindu devotees ,” Kamalanathan said.

He said Salahuddin’s statement is seditious and wants the latter to clarify the statement within 24 hours.

When contacted today, he said that police reports are being lodged against Salahuddin.