Apologise for politicising food stall issue, Ramasamy told

NGOs called PSSGM and Perkasa say the statement by Penang Deputy Chief Minister II over the termination of a food stall operator’s contract was 'very responsible'.

BUTTERWORTH: Two non-governmental organisations today called on Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy to apologise to the relevant parties for allegedly politicising the termination of a food stall operator’s contract at Seberang Perai Polytechnic (PSP).

The two NGOs were Pertubuhan Seni Silat Gayung Malaysia (PSSGM) Pulau Pinang and Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) Pulau Pinang.

“Ramasamy’s statement at a media conference on June 29 was very irresponsible. Such statement should not have come from an intellectual.

“He should be thankful to the polytechnic for helping the Indian community,” Penang PSSGM chief Mohd Mamsin Anor Kassim told a media conference here today.

Gobi Krishnan, 45, held a media conference with Ramasamy following PSP’s decision not to renew his food stall contract. They claimed the issue, which went viral on social media, was because Gobi Krishnan was not a Muslim.

The Polytechnic Education Department in a statement yesterday said the food seller’s application for contract renewal was rejected because he did not fulfil a condition in the price quotation specification or Code 040103 (Muslim food).

Perkasa Penang chief Mohd Nasir Othman claimed it was not the first time that Ramasamy had issued racist statements.

He said Ramasamy should look at the issue objectively by meeting with the PSP management to resolve the controversy rather than politicise it.

He said the organisation would lodge a police report against Ramasamy. -FMT