Waytha sees ‘beacon of hope’ in top law appointments

Hindraf chairman says the Pakatan Harapan government, criticised for appointing non-Muslims to three key posts, should be given leeway to implement positive changes.

P Waythamoorthy says Dr Mahathir Mohamad is a ‘true reformist’.

PETALING JAYA: Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy has lauded Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for being a “true reformist”, saying it showed in his appointments of three key posts related to legal affairs despite ruffling the feathers of Islamist party PAS.

He said the decisions were bold and offered a “beacon of hope” for a new Malaysia where merit and having the right people chosen for jobs would be the norm.

“His action has set a new precedent and freed Malaysia from the old mindset, which is good for the country and its people,” Waythamoorthy said, referring to the appointments of Richard Malanjum, Tommy Thomas and Liew Vui Keong to top judicial and legal positions.

PAS information chief Nasrudin Hassan recently claimed that the Pakatan Harapan government’s appointment of non-Muslim “worrying figures” had caused restlessness among Muslims and raised concerns about the legal welfare of Muslims.

Waythamoorthy said today that Mahathir’s government should be given time and leeway to implement positive changes.

He said the years of indoctrination and infiltration of extreme views in the civil service, government and political leaders in the past had led to Malaysia moving towards a discriminatory and “somewhat a racist society”.

It was disheartening that government awards and promotions were based on race in the past, but Mahathir had set the stage for a real need to change, he said. -FMT