Waytha under fire for silence over temples

A MIC Youth leader has also questioned Hindraf’s plans to ‘take down another Indian' via contesting in MIC allocated seats.

SHAH ALAM: Hindraf pioneer P Waythamoorthy has come under fire for his deafening silence over the Selangor government’s handling of two temple issues in the state recently.

Accusing Waythamoorthy of “pretending to be in the dark” over the issue, Selangor MIC Youth chief M Shanker Raj Ayanger said the Hindraf man’s silence showed that he was an opportunist.

“While the Malaysian Indian community is upset that the Selangor government through the Sepang Municipal Council barged into a house and broke a shrine there recently, Waythamoorthy has kept mum on the matter.

“Would he have done the same if the Selangor government was run by the Barisan Nasional?

“It is surprising to note that Hindraf, which claimed to safeguard Indian rights, has remained silent on the two temple issues involving the Pakatan Rakyat government” he said.

He was referring to the recent case where the enforcement officers from the Sepang Municipal Council demolished a private shrine built within the compound of a house.

As soon as the issue subsided, the Kajang Municipal Council issued summons and fines to the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Kajang, for excessive noise during prayer sessions.

The council has since rescinded the summons and compounds.

“It looks like Waythamoorthy has deliberately overlooked these two incidents.

“There were also reports that seven temples have been demolished in Selangor after Pakatan’s rule began in 2008 but Hindraf has disregarded the issue.

“It seems quite clear Hindraf only makes noise if it is the BN.

“But if Pakatan does anything, it is silent. When you fight for the community, you must be fair and just. You must fight even if the opponent is your friend.

“You are fighting for the people. But now it looks like Hindraf is only there to criticise the BN and nothing else,” he told FMT.

MIC not afraid of Hindraf
Shanker Raj also criticised Hindraf’s bid to contest MIC seats at the forthcoming 13th general election.

Waythamoorthy himself was reported to be keen on contesting against MIC president G Palanivel, in whichever seat Palanivel wanted.

“What happened to Waythamoorthy’s previous statements when he claimed that Hindraf’s enemy is not MIC but Umno?

“Are they going to kill another Indian and say it is for the betterment of the Malaysian Indian community?” he asked.

He said MIC will not fear any challenge from Hindraf leaders at the general election.

“This provides us with a golden opportunity to prove our mettle and also to show that the majority of the Indian community had lost faith in Hindraf,” said Shanker Raj.

He alleged that Waythamoorthy had become a tool for Pakatan to further his own political aspiration.