Sunday, February 27, 2011

Hindraf wants to create bad publicity for Malaysia, says PM


February 27, 2011

Najib questioned Hindraf's decision to hold the demonstration at KLCC. — Bernama pic
TEMERLOH, Feb 27 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak regards the attempt by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) members to hold a demonstration in the federal capital today as a deliberate move to create bad publicity for Malaysia through the international media.

He said the group was actually hoping the police would use force against them so that the Malaysian government would be seen as a brutal and autocratic regime.

“We don’t want to use force, but they are hoping we will do so as they want to exploit the situation by painting a bad picture of Malaysia through international television channels,” he said after attending a gathering with Felda Jengka 25 residents, here, today.

The prime minister was referring to the incident where more than 15 people, believed to be Hindraf members, were arrested by police for holding a demonstration to protest against the novel “Interlok”, at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) grounds, here, this morning.

“With regard to the issues faced by the Indian community, we have resolved many of these issues,” Najib said.

He said Hindraf had already submitted their memorandums to him and other Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders in Putrajaya to look into the Indian community’s issues.

“Why the need to hold a demonstration and why at KLCC?” he asked.

In Kepala Batas, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Hindraf group’s actions, including their plan to hold a major protest procession from KLCC to Jalan Dang Wangi today, could have been politically motivated or with a certain agenda.

“If their actions now are the same as when I was prime minister, they might also want to split the vote.

“This is by getting Indians not to support Barisan Nasional but the opposition,” Abdullah said when asked to comment on Hindraf’s actions of late after he had distributed equipment and machinery to 18 farmers, here.

However, he added, with the many positive approaches undertaken by the government in solving problems faced by the Indian community, Hindraf would find it difficult to get support from the community. — Bernama

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