Indian Muslim leaders rise against Kimma

The remarks of Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress' (Kimma) that the community has been marginalised by the Penang government have led to it being accused of trying to bodek (butter up) Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

At a dinner in George Town last night, Kimma president Syed Ibrahim Kader said members of the community have personally conveyed their dissatisfaction to him about their plights.

Syed Ibrahim, who is a senator, said complaints from the community included empty promises of the Pakatan Rakyat state government leaders during the 2008 election campaign.

Penang state executive councillor for Muslim religious affairs, domestic trade and consumerism Abdul Malik Abul Kassim (left) today condemned Syed Ibrahim's remarks as "very absurd and big lies".

Malik said Syed Ibrahim "does not need to show his gratitude for being a BN appointed senator" by running down the Penang administration under Pakatan.

"If he wants to bodek and ampu (butter) the Prime Minister, please go to another state and do it. I challenge him to back his accusations with facts and figures," Malik said.

"We do not sideline the Indian Muslims and since we came to power, we have always worked with them."

Abdul Malik cited several examples of how the Indian Muslim community has been brought into the mainstream of Penang society.

These efforts included approving several state government tenders and contracts to those qualified for the jobs, he said.

And during the recent George Town Heritage Festival from July 7-9, Indian Muslim restaurant owners came in to showcase their delicacies to local and foreign tourists.

'State does not ignore their plight'

Last week, Malik said, he had met with members of the Tanjung Indian Muslim Society, and held discussions close to two hours on how to resolve their problems.

The state, he said, did not ignore the plight of nasi kandarrestaurant owners, and had allowed them to place tables and chairs on roadsides outside their outlets, as long as there was no danger to public safety and security, and charged then a small fee.

"We have inherited all these problems from the Barisan Nasional government," he added. "We want to tell Syed Ibrahim: do not come to Penang and disrupt the harmony here by raising racial and religious issues."

"I have personally handled many issues concerning the Indian Muslim community... I was born in Tanjung (the heart of George Town), and I am annoyed with these mischievous statements by Kimma," the Batu Maung assemblyperson added.

Syed Ibrahim, who officially opened the www.blooddonation.org portal last night, also said he was appointed a senator to oversee and raise the problems of Indian Muslims.

In an immediate response, a well-established religious and social activist, Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim, said Syed Ibrahim's comments have angered many quarters and that his "mischievous" remarks do not reflect the views and opinions of the Indian Muslim community.

Thasleem (right), who is the National Action Team chairperson, expressed special thanks to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his team for personally and immediately responding to several requests for help he made for the community via telephone or text messages.

"Under the previous BN government, I would have to wait at least three months to get a response. In Perak, when Pakatan was ruling, I got to resolve my problems within 48 hours, if under the BN... I would have to wait until the cows come home," he said.

"My personal experience in politics the last 35 years was in BN and MIC... I got out of BN in 2008. And I must say that since Pakatan took over Penang, our relationship with them is very good," he added.

Thasleem, who is president of a welfare NGO based in Kuala Lumpur called Malaysian Alagankulam Muslim Jamath, said Syed Ibrahim was traditionally an Umno man who did not have his finger on the pulse of the Indian Muslim community.

"Please do not belittle the state government here without knowing the facts. The Indian Muslims in Penang are better off with Pakatan in the state government," he added. - Malaysiakini