In a rare show of solidarity with the Tamil community, Malay rights group Perkasa has urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to snub the Commonwealth gathering in Sri Lanka later this month.
This, Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali (centre in photo) said, was to be sensitive to the feelings of those in the Tamil community who are offended by the persecution of their kin in Sri Lanka.
"The situation there is tense, Perkasa thinks it appropriate that the prime minister does not go and sends the foreign minister in his place.
"This is to take cognisant of the feelings of Indians who are unsettled by what is happening in Sri Lanka," he said.
Ibrahim said this during a Deepavali open house by the New Indian Welfare and Charity Association (Perinnbam) in Gombak this afternoon.
Perkasa had in July this year, together with Perinnbam and the Malaysia New Era Chinese Association (Percisma) formed the Malaysian Inter-racial NGOs Council (Mirac) in its bid to shed its racist image.
This, Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali (centre in photo) said, was to be sensitive to the feelings of those in the Tamil community who are offended by the persecution of their kin in Sri Lanka."The situation there is tense, Perkasa thinks it appropriate that the prime minister does not go and sends the foreign minister in his place.
"This is to take cognisant of the feelings of Indians who are unsettled by what is happening in Sri Lanka," he said.
Ibrahim said this during a Deepavali open house by the New Indian Welfare and Charity Association (Perinnbam) in Gombak this afternoon.
Perkasa had in July this year, together with Perinnbam and the Malaysia New Era Chinese Association (Percisma) formed the Malaysian Inter-racial NGOs Council (Mirac) in its bid to shed its racist image.
Several Pakatan Rakyat leaders had urged Najib to boycott the Commonwealth meet to protest Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa war against the Tamil rebels.
The Sri Lankan government has responded aggressively over allegations of violence against its Tamil community and in July pressured Putrajaya to stop a screening of the film "No Fire Zone" which documents the conflict.
'Sri Lankan meddling'
Following the complaint from the Sri Lankan embassy, Malaysian authorities raided the screening organised by Pusat Komas and its programme coordinator Lena Hendry was arrested and charged under the Film Censorship Act 2002.
However, Ibrahim stopped short of calling for the charge against Lena be dropped, stating that it was up to the government to decide.
Also present at the Deepavali event were Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan, Perinnbam chief U Thamotharan and Percisma chief Andy Choy.
During his speech, Tharmotharan called on allies Perkasa and Percisma to lobby the government in making Deepavali a two-day holiday.
"Hari Raya gets two days holiday, Chinese New Year is also two days, so why not Deepavali?" he said.
Later, Ahmad said he will forward to request to the government but it was up to the top leadership to decide.
The Sri Lankan government has responded aggressively over allegations of violence against its Tamil community and in July pressured Putrajaya to stop a screening of the film "No Fire Zone" which documents the conflict.
'Sri Lankan meddling'
Following the complaint from the Sri Lankan embassy, Malaysian authorities raided the screening organised by Pusat Komas and its programme coordinator Lena Hendry was arrested and charged under the Film Censorship Act 2002.
However, Ibrahim stopped short of calling for the charge against Lena be dropped, stating that it was up to the government to decide.
Also present at the Deepavali event were Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan, Perinnbam chief U Thamotharan and Percisma chief Andy Choy.
During his speech, Tharmotharan called on allies Perkasa and Percisma to lobby the government in making Deepavali a two-day holiday.
"Hari Raya gets two days holiday, Chinese New Year is also two days, so why not Deepavali?" he said.
Later, Ahmad said he will forward to request to the government but it was up to the top leadership to decide.
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