Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has come to the defence of Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, who is facing calls to be sacked for his recent remarks on the civil service.
The PKR lawmaker said as a Malay, he does not feel threatened by Ramasamy's call for reforms to the civil service that is Malay dominated.
“It is a fact, not an accusation, that 90 percent of the 1.2 million civil servants are Malays. This dominance is quite large. This is what has become an issue for Ramasamy.
“Ramasamy did not raise a racial issue. He called for reform, not a revolution, for the public service sector so that it is seen to be fairer and more balanced for a just and civilised Malaysia.
“It should be respected if Ramasamy wishes to speak out in justice for the non-Malay citizens,” Hassan (above) said in a statement yesterday.
He reminded everybody that Malaysia is a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious country.
Ramasamy has also consistently been a supporter of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s agenda reform, Hassan added.
“Let’s not ask for him to be sacked and be removed from his position simply because he dares to voice his views,” he said.
In this regard, Hassan commended Anwar for defending Ramasamy’s right to speak.
Anwar had said that Ramasamy’s remarks on the civil service were his personal opinion and that this view does not represent his party or the government.
The prime minister added that the government does not view the Malay domination of the civil service as an issue.
Be patient
Hassan said the prime minister is dealing with too many challenges right now and urged patience from all quarters.
“Malaysian politics is like a battlefield with many landmines. One wrong step could end in an explosion. Anwar understands this all too well,” he added.
Anwar’s response towards Ramasamy’s call for reforms is reasonable, Hassan said, seeing as the prime minister has to maintain political stability within and outside the government.
Several days ago, Ramasamy said on Facebook that the civil service is “ossified” and is in need of reforms.
The DAP leader said the argument that Malay domination in the civil service was needed to counterbalance Chinese control of the economy was no longer valid under the coalition government’s administration.
This, he said, was among the arguments Dr Mahathir Mohamad used to institutionalise Malay hegemony in the public sector during his first stint as prime minister.
Backlash
The statement courted flak against Ramasamy and DAP from both sides of the political divide. Ramasamy has since distanced the party from his remarks, saying they were his personal views.
Those attacking him included Penang PKR Youth information chief Abshar Nurasyra and Amanah central committee member Mohd Sany Hamzan, and both of them also urged the state government and DAP to sack Ramasamy.
Bersatu vice-president Mohd Radzi Md Jidin also lambasted Ramasamy, saying the statement was an insult to the Malays and the civil service.
He linked the DAP leader’s remarks to the party and claimed DAP was “well known to be allergic to whatever that is Malay dominated”.
Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has since thanked the party’s allies over their calls for action against Ramasamy.
Loke said the party has its own way of handling issues and hinted that Ramasamy would be dealt with through the party’s internal channels. - Mkini
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