Problem is not Waytha, but his boss Dr M – PSM on new 'Indian' party

PSM is concerned with the formation of race-based parties which threatens to revert the current Pakatan Harapan coalition to the BN era.

In view of this, PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan is surprised that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy also chose to tread down this road since his portfolio is national unity and wellbeing.

“But the problem is not Waythamoorthy. It is his boss, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who started the ball rolling with the formation of the race-based Bersatu.

“Now Waythamoorthy has announced the birth of the Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP). Although the word 'Indian' is not used such as in MIC, it appears that Mahathir is steering Harapan towards the BN political framework of race-based parties.

“We recognise that it is Waythamoorthy's democratic right to form a party of his choice but the issue is whether such a party is progressive or regressive,” he told Malaysiakini.

However, Arutchelvan (photo) said it would be interesting to see if other Harapan component parties would agree to accept MAP into the coalition's fold.

“The big debate is whether we should have multiracial parties or race-based parties. We in PSM disagree with the creation of a political platform to advance the rights and interests of one race.

“As far as we are concerned, politics must cut across race and religion. It should focus on class inequalities instead,” he added.

Arutchelvan noted how PKR president Anwar Ibrahim had during the time of Harapan's predecessor Pakatan Rakyat put forth the idea of “Ketuanan Rakyat” as opposed to “Ketuanan Melayu”.

“We thought this was a bold and progressive move as well as a step in the right direction for a nation drowning in race politics,” he added.

Earlier today, Waythamoorthy had announced the formation of MAP.

The minister in the Prime Minister's Department said MAP would protect, promote and advance the interests of the Indian community in Malaysia in the political, economic, educational, cultural, religious and social spheres. - Mkini