What next, Waythamoorthy?

Waythamoorthy's theatrics are not going to work wonders for him.

COMMENT

Whatever his agenda may be, P Waythamoothy does not deserve an inch of empathy nor sorry for his failure to perform as a deputy minister and uplift the socio-economic status of the Indian community.

Waythamoorthy was appointed senator in June last year and subsequently appointed deputy minister. He relinquished both the positions 10 days ago.

The rakyat, particularly the Indians, have not forgotten Waythamoorthy’s self-conceit soon after inking the memorandum of understanding with Barisan Nasional where the Hindraf leader said it did not matter whether the country was helmed by a Rama or Ravana.

That ‘opening line’ itself got Waythamoorthy flak from former Malaysian Bar president S Ambiga who was worried with the wrong message Waythamoorthy was sending out to the community and children.

“I am horrified that Waythamoorthy said it does not matter whether Rama or Ravana rules. This is shocking since Ravana is seen as the embodiment of evil and Rama, the embodiment of goodness.

“Furthermore, this message is intended for the Indians and the Hindus revere Lord Rama. I am utterly shocked that he is selling this idea that it does not matter if the ruler is good or evil and that it is all right to negotiate with evil. What kind of message is that?” Ambiga then said.

Waythamoorthy then called on Indian voters to back the Najib administration in the 2013 general election, a move which earned the former widespread condemnation.

Detractors were convinced that Waythamoorthy pocketed a handsome sum in return for his allegiance but the lawyer-turned politician claimed he did so after BN agreed to Hindraf’s terms of uplifting the Indians, something which the opposition Pakatan Rakyat failed to do.

Waythamoorthy’s appointment also earned him the ire of his activist brother P Uthayakumar who said his younger brother was a “political opportunist” who had diverted from Hindraf’s (Hindu Rights Action Force) cause by a personal agenda.

“Congratulations to Waytha as the latest Indian mandore, otherwise known as the new S Samy Vellu,” was how Uthayakumar, who heads a faction of Hindraf and also leads the unregistered Human Rights Party reacted to news of his brother joining forces with BN.

(“Mandore” is a word that Malaysian Indians use pejoratively to refer to an Indian who oppresses his own people to please his non-Indian master. S Samy Vellu is a former president of MIC).

“Waythamoorthy’s involvement in Najib’s cabinet has nothing to do with Hindraf,” he said. “He was sacked from Hindraf on April 25 by the Hindraf supreme council for being a traitor,” Uthayakumar added.

On April 18 last year, Hindraf and BN signed a memorandum of understanding covering six main issues with the aim of bringing poor Indians into the country’s mainstream development.

Eight months after a bitter taste of Umno Baru-style politics, Waythamoorthy has called it quits, but not before turning the tables on Najib demanding that the premier resign for going back on his promise to the Indian community through the Hindraf blueprint of policies.

Politics not for Waythamoorthy

But then why blast Najib when it was Waythamoorthy who with much gusto decided back then that he could deliver and jumped into the dirty game of politics.

It seems deja vu now, the 2007 mammoth protest that made Hindraf a household name and with Waythamoorthy then championing the Hindraf agenda which saw him running BN down in the international sphere.

Looks like the several years spent in self-imposed exile in London did play a hand in the ‘new’ Waythamoorthy, his 180 degree turn a shocker to the Indian community.

Waythamoorthy convinced the Indian community that his ‘handshake’ with BN was for the good of the community.

Several months later, all Waythamoorthy has to offer to the Indians is ‘sorry’.

Premier Najib’s little game plan of striking gold with the Indian community via Waythamoorthy cost the latter dearly, both in terms of living up to the Indian community’s expectations and staying true to his words.

That Najib used Waythmoorthy to further his own political agenda is not surprising. Even the MIC was overlooked by Najib when it came to appointing Waythamoorthy.

“The matter (Waythamoorthy’s appointment) was not discussed with us (MIC) and it came as a surprising news for us.

“Well, he (Najib) had made the decision, although our views are different (and) there have been reactions from the Indian community. So, we have to honour and respect him (Najib) and we need to accept Waythamoorthy,” MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam remarked in May last year.

The Kelantan-born Waythamoorthy became the first Indian leader from an Indian-based civil society organisation to be appointed as deputy minister.

What next, Waythamoorthy?

From being ticked off by Najib for not being a ‘BN’ team player to now crying out loud that the premier steps down for having betrayed the Indians, Waythamoorthy’s theatrics are not going to work wonders for him.

Making the call at a press conference on Tuesday, Waythamoorthy claimed Najib lacked the requisite will and courage to meet the demands made in the memorandum. He added that the entire cabinet should be “embarrassed” with Najib.

He also called Najib a liar for telling the public that he did not discuss his resignation beforehand.

“BN should be ashamed to be led by a leader who openly lies and deceives the people on a written contract he made in public,” said Waythamoorthy.

Does Waythamoorthy seriously expect the Indians to listen to his woes after the high hopes he had given them?

By the way, was it not Waythamoorthy himself who ignored all objections and chose to join hands with a corrupt and nefarious BN?

To plead innocence and push all blame to Najib does not exonerate Waythamoorthy. To now cry like a child deprived of a toy is not going to help improve matters.

It was obvious that Waythamoorthy did not seal the deal with Najib for the benefit of fellow Indians. Had the Indian community’s concern been Waythamoorthy’s concern, he would have stayed true to his commitment, the odds in spite.

To conveniently throw in the towel hints that Waythamoorthy was pursuing his own agenda which however got sandbagged by Umno Baru.

Khairy who is also Umno Youth chief has once again slammed Waythamoorthy, this time for maligning and demanding that Najib quit as premier.

Khairy in his tweet, said: “Waythamoorthy is not a team player and not effective in advocating the Indian issues”.

He also revealed that “whenever Waythamoorthy had brought matters up to Najib’s attention, they were resolved”.

Khairy claimed Waythamoorthy quit his posts because the latter demanded that all government budget meant for the Indian community be channelled directly to Waythamoorthy, which was not a BN practice.

Politics may be a new ball game for Waythamoorthy but being a lawyer he is well aware of its dirty business – so blaming Najib is not going to earn Waythamoorthy accolades because it is he who has betrayed and disappointed the Indian community.

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.