Protest rally: ‘PKR didn’t invite Indian nationals’

The foreigners could have been planted by someone, says a grassroots PKR leader.

PETALING JAYA: A grassroots PKR leader today squashed allegation that the party had invited Indian nationals to the “stateless” Indians protest at the National Registration Department (NRD) on Wednesday.

He, however, claimed that the “foreigners” at the protest rally could have been “planted by someone”, who was trying to tarnish the image of the party and its aim of helping Malaysian Indians without any documents to prove they were citizens of the country.

Subang PKR division committee member S Bala Kumaran (photo), who is also known as PKR Bala, said the presence of Indian nationals at the protest was pre-planned by those wanting to tarnish PKR’s image.

On Wednesday, an Indian national, Vengadeshwaran Subramaniam, who hails from Tamil Nadu and now resides in Kampung Kayu Ara, Damansara, alleged that someone claiming to be a PKR leader promised to help him get Malaysian citizenship provided he joined the protest.

The Indian national said he received the “offer” through a telephone text message from a person identifying himself as PKR Bala.

He said he called the number from which the message was sent and the mobile telephone was picked up by an Indian man who introduced himself as PKR Bala, who subsequently promised to get him a MyKad if he participated in the protest.

The SMS, which was forwarded to FMT, reads: “To all Indian Nationals from India. Don’t miss this opportunity. U can get Malaysian citizenship. Malaysian government giving u a chance now. Please go and register at Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (NRD), Putrajaya on 12-12-12 at 10am. Please pass a word to all our Indians friends.”

Bala, meanwhile, denied sending the text message inviting Indian nationals to the protest in return for a Malaysian citizenship.

“I never sent such SMS to anyone. It could be a prank SMS by someone who is really in a dire position to win Indian votes at the 13th general election,” he said.

‘BN very scared’

He, however, refused to elaborate, when asked if he suspected anyone behind the text message.

“Barisan Nasional is very scared, given PKR’s popularity among the Indians. So, I am not surprised with such incidents,” he added.

He said there was no reason for PKR to bring Indian nationals to the protest.

Meanwhile, MIC Youth chief T Mohan claimed that Pakatan Rakyat lied when the opposition coalition said there were 300,000 stateless Indians in the country.

“Only 308 such stateless Indians registered at the NRD on Wednesday. Where are the remainder? Have they all gone into hiding? I challenge [PKR vice-president] N Surendran to show proof or resign. If he gets the 300,000 stateless Indians, I will resign from my position,” he said.

He also alleged that PKR was pulling this stunt just to win a few Indian voters at the next general election.

“Where were they all this while when the MIC was asking real Malaysian Indians without any documents to register with us? We have helped many and are still helping people. Suddenly over the last three months they come up with this allegation.

“If it is true, why doesn’t PKR register the so-called stateless Indians and give the list to the NRD for verification? They just pluck this figure from thin air and make all sorts of allegations,” said Mohan.