Didn't DAP Youth ask our minister to resign too? Syed Saddiq tells Ramasamy

Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman rebutted Penang Chief Minister II P Ramasamy's criticism for accompanying party members in a protest to demand for Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy's resignation.

Syed Saddiq, who is also youth and sports minister, pointed out that DAP Youth had done the exact same thing with regard to Education Minister Maszlee Malik.

"Your own youth wing had demanded the education minister to resign. But when Bersatu Youth does the same, we are accused of betraying Harapan, accused of playing racial sentiment, accused of being like Umno and PAS.

"This has nothing to do about race. It's about agreeing to disagree, about not suppressing people's right to freely express their viewpoints," he said in a statement.

Yesterday, Sarawak DAP Youth publicity secretary Abdul Aziz Isa called on Maszlee to resign over the latter's statement about teachers proselytising in Sarawak.

Abdul Aziz later retracted his statement and apologised.

Syed Saddiq said as Youth chief, he was responsible for allowing his colleagues to air their views.

"So YB, do not think you can silence the youth," he said.

Syed Saddiq pointed out that other Harapan leaders had made similar calls against Waythamoorthy, including Ramasamy's colleague in the Penang government - PKR's Afif Bahardin.

"I suggest Ramsamy take action against Afif who had aired similar concerns to mine. Isn't he your colleague from Penang? Heck, he is even an exco with you," Syed Saddiq said.

He added that Amanah Youth too had called for Waythamoorthy to be replaced.

Ramasamy, who is the Penang DAP vice-chairperson, had accused Syed Saddiq of "insulting" Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

Mahathir had decided to retain Waythamoorthy despite the controversy. Mahathir is also the Bersatu chairperson.

Waythamoorthy, who is in charge of national unity, had faced criticism for making critical comments against the police shortly after the Seafield Temple riots last month.

In the early hours of the investigation, police said the riot was triggered by quarrels between two Indian groups but later clarified that it was between two groups of different races.

Critics argue that Waythamoorthy's attack on the police during a sensitive period did not help unite the people. 

However, his allies say Waythamoorthy was being made a scapegoat for the riots which he was not responsible for. - Mkini