Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has disputed Pakatan Rakyat's claim that there are 300,000 Indian Malaysians who are stateless because they had no identity cards.
While addressing the MIC national general assembly this morning, Najib said that the number was being exaggerated, but did not estimate the number of those suffering from this longstanding problem.
“First of all, there are no 300,000 stateless Indians. We have done the registration. I have checked again just now with (Human Resource Minister) Subramaniam Sathasivam and he said 9,000 had registered.
“Of these, 4,500 cases have been settled and citizenship had been issued (to them). Another 2,000 are being processed,” he said.
While addressing the MIC national general assembly this morning, Najib said that the number was being exaggerated, but did not estimate the number of those suffering from this longstanding problem.
“First of all, there are no 300,000 stateless Indians. We have done the registration. I have checked again just now with (Human Resource Minister) Subramaniam Sathasivam and he said 9,000 had registered.
“Of these, 4,500 cases have been settled and citizenship had been issued (to them). Another 2,000 are being processed,” he said.
Leaflets distributed at the assembly stated that there were 9,529 registrations, 6,590 approvals, and 2,939 applications still being processed, as of June 2012.
A significant number of ethnic Indians, and to a lesser extent some indigenous communities in Sabah and Sarawak, are born without citizenship papers.
A significant number of ethnic Indians, and to a lesser extent some indigenous communities in Sabah and Sarawak, are born without citizenship papers.
Najib gives guarantee
Reasons for this phenomenon varies - which includes logistics, illiteracy, poverty and ignorance - but critics claim that the ruling party do not see any insentive in rectifying the problem.
Without proper documentation, victims suffer complications in entering school, access to public healthcare and the ineligibility to vote, among others.
PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim had repeatedly claimed that there are 300,000 such persons in Malaysian and Pakatan Rakyat would resolve the problem within a month should they comes to power.
Najib refuted this, claiming that if this was true, this would mean locating and registering 10,000 such person per day and approving their applications.
“Ladies and gentleman, it is belittling the intelligence of the Indian community...
“Whoever is having problems (with citizenship) can come forward and I guarantee we shall process it and give approval, but not 300,000 person. They (the opposition) lied. There are no 300,000 (stateless Indian Malaysians).
“If there are 300,000, I would like to give (citizenship) to all of them. They would add to our fixed deposits,” he said, in reference to MIC president G Palanivel’s speech earlier.
Fixed deposits
Palanivel had referred to Indians as BN's "fixed deposits", that was lost during the 2008 general election but the community is now warming up to BN once again.
“Fixed deposits will be subject to ‘economic inflation’, so we must constantly upgrade and support the fixed deposit scheme,” he said.
In his speech, Najib also urged delegates to label opposition promises as Janji Buah Pala (Kampung Buah Pala Promise)
“What are their promises? Janji Buah Pala, (as in) Kampung Buah Pala. I tell you, if the opposition makes promises, we shall equate it as Janji Buah Pala,” he said
He repeatedly egged delegates on during his speech by shouting “What are their promises?” to which delegates shout back, “Buah Pala!”
He said Pakatan Rakyat made an election promises that the traditional Indian village in Penang “can stay there forever”, but it turned out to be a lie.
Najib refuted this, claiming that if this was true, this would mean locating and registering 10,000 such person per day and approving their applications.
“Ladies and gentleman, it is belittling the intelligence of the Indian community...
“Whoever is having problems (with citizenship) can come forward and I guarantee we shall process it and give approval, but not 300,000 person. They (the opposition) lied. There are no 300,000 (stateless Indian Malaysians).
“If there are 300,000, I would like to give (citizenship) to all of them. They would add to our fixed deposits,” he said, in reference to MIC president G Palanivel’s speech earlier.
Fixed deposits
Palanivel had referred to Indians as BN's "fixed deposits", that was lost during the 2008 general election but the community is now warming up to BN once again.
“Fixed deposits will be subject to ‘economic inflation’, so we must constantly upgrade and support the fixed deposit scheme,” he said.
In his speech, Najib also urged delegates to label opposition promises as Janji Buah Pala (Kampung Buah Pala Promise)
“What are their promises? Janji Buah Pala, (as in) Kampung Buah Pala. I tell you, if the opposition makes promises, we shall equate it as Janji Buah Pala,” he said
He repeatedly egged delegates on during his speech by shouting “What are their promises?” to which delegates shout back, “Buah Pala!”
He said Pakatan Rakyat made an election promises that the traditional Indian village in Penang “can stay there forever”, but it turned out to be a lie.
'Pakatan are temple destroyers'
The village was demolished to make way for a condominium project after the developer obtained a court order to evict the squatters.
However, the state government had said it was able to convincethe developer to build houses for the displaced villagers, except for nine families that refused to sign the compensation agreement.
Najib also slammed Pakatan Rakyat-led governments for demolishing Hindu temples, saying that seven had been demolished so far while BN had never done so.
“Of late, even a private shrine in Sepang was demolished. BN will help to rebuild it.
“MIC, go and repair the shrine. If they demolish it (again), then repair it again, because this is a right that cannot be destroyed or alienated by anyone, including the opposition.
“The Indian community must fight for their rights, right or not? If you have to sue them, sue them!” he shouted.
However, the state government had said it was able to convincethe developer to build houses for the displaced villagers, except for nine families that refused to sign the compensation agreement.
Najib also slammed Pakatan Rakyat-led governments for demolishing Hindu temples, saying that seven had been demolished so far while BN had never done so.
“Of late, even a private shrine in Sepang was demolished. BN will help to rebuild it.
“MIC, go and repair the shrine. If they demolish it (again), then repair it again, because this is a right that cannot be destroyed or alienated by anyone, including the opposition.
“The Indian community must fight for their rights, right or not? If you have to sue them, sue them!” he shouted.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.