Utusan gives Waytha thumbs up for quitting

Utusan Malaysia has expressed its approval of Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (PHM) chief P Waythamoorthy’s decision to quit his cabinet posts last Monday.

 

In a column by Utusan assistant editor Ku Seman Ku Hussain inMingguan Malaysia - the newspaper's Sunday edition - the author wrote that Waythamoorthy’s resignation was no surprise.

 

“Actually, he should have long resigned once he chose to be the voice of the provocative PHM. It is better than becoming a thorn in the government’s side.

 

“Waythamoorthy should remember that when he was brought into the cabinet, it was not like there had been no unsettled parties (over his appointment).

 

“But because they had to comply with their leader’s decision, they only kept mum on their feelings (about the issue),” Ku Seman added.

 

Waythamoorthy leads PHM, which is a splinter faction of the original Hindraf movement, and had controversially signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BN prior to the 13th general election.

Gov't has helped Indians a lot
 

He had urged Indians to vote for BN after the MOU was signed, and was appointed as deputy minister and as senator after the elections.

 

“Waythamoorthy said his reason for quitting is because the government had failed in fulfilling its promises (in the MOU), but he did not mention the fact that the government has given out almost RM500 million in aid for the Indian community. 

 

"Besides that, from 2008 to 2011, the government had given aid amounting to RM34.5 million through the Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga Nasional (Tekun) programme.

 

"Apa lagi Hindraf mahu (What else do they want)? The reality is, the government has done more than it has to for the sake of helping Indians," Ku Seman said.

 

On another note, he also stressed that the government’s "extraordinary compromise" towards Indians should not be taken lightly by the community.

 

As an example, Ku Seman noted that there has been no action on the giant Hindu statue next to Batu Caves although its existence already threatens the status of Islam as the religion of the federation.

 

“(Therefore,) Waythamoorthy should understand that the excuse of the government not paying attention to the Indian community, is not true whatsoever,” the Utusan editor added.