A DAP senior leader has blasted Edmund Santhara for being a "failed" federal territories deputy minister and someone who makes wild allegations against netizens, especially those supposedly linked to DAP over the Rohingya issue.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy (photo, above) said Santhara, who recently joined Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, has realised that "DAP bashing" might possibly give him political returns.
He added that Santhara may be eyeing a full minister's post although his associate membership in Bersatu is a "demeaning position".
"The vaulting ambition for upward mobility means that he has to please his political bosses, not just in Bersatu but also Umno and PAS.
"Santhara proves that DAP bashing still has some relevance to those ambitious politicians in Perikatan Nasional," he said to Malaysiakini.
On May 1, Santhara claimed that hate speech and xenophobia messages targeting the Rohingya community on social media had originated from netizens linked to DAP.
He claimed to have run through social media messages and saw them being sponsored by politically motivated groups.
Santhara told Malaysiakini and KinitTV this when asked if the xenophobia targeting Rohingyas is a growing concern for the government.
Ramasamy wondered how Santhara could verify allegations concerning anti-Rohingya messages remains to be seen.
"Apparently he seems to have more expertise than the relevant government agencies tasked with investigating cyberspace crimes.
"Yet, he has the temerity or foolishness to wander into areas that he might not have the expertise of verification. Edmund has proven that little or no knowledge is a dangerous thing," he said.
Ramasamy said Santhara lacked the "elementary guts" to challenge those Umno leaders who were once vociferous in defending the Rohingya.
He said some of these leaders had even held rallies for the Rohingya cause, participating in a gathering by both Umno and PAS in 2016 to protest the persecution of ethnic Rohingya in Myanmar.
Ramasamy added that these leaders have since turned their back on the Rohingya, including former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
"Well, if Santhara wants to adopt a humanitarian perspective on the Rohingya, it is fine.
"If he is serious about clearing the Rohingya from the Selayang market, he can always suggest, which he has done, for them to be sent to work in the plantations," he said.
Ramasamy said ministers or deputy ministers have taken an oath of confidentiality and responsibility in discharging their duties. - Mkini
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