There is no difference between the outcries over DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang’s remarks about a non-Malay prime minister and the lack of a Tamil-speaking minister in the new cabinet line-up, according to PSM.
“Both show that Malaysians believe that only their own race can take care of them.
“This is sad because, after 65 years of independence, we are as divided as ever,” said party deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan.
Responding to a question on DAP lawmaker Gobind Singh’s appointment as the digital minister, he asked if Punjabis should not hold office just because they are a minority group.
“If that is the logic, then no non-Malay should be allowed to be PM as well?” he told Malaysiakini.
On that note, Arutchelvan said having an “Indian or Tamil-speaking” minister does not necessarily translate into better representation for the community, which continues to be saddled with socio-economic problems.
“In the past, during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s 22-year reign (as prime minister), there were calls for two full minister posts for Indians, which did not materialise.
“Then during Mahathir’s 22-month reign (when Pakatan Harapan was in power), suddenly there were four Indian ministers. I am including Gobind as well for this one.
“But the point is, whether one, two, three, or four, was the community better represented?” he asked.
Where do we draw the line?
Arutchelvan then suggested that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim allow one of the two Tamil-speaking deputy ministers, M Kulasegaran, R Ramanan, and K Saraswathy to be present during cabinet meetings to address the above-mentioned concern.
“Then again, if this is allowed, wouldn’t we also need to have an Orang Asli representative in the cabinet? Where will we draw the line?” he added.
For Arutchelvan, the simple question is whether cabinet ministers are supposed to represent all Malaysians or just their respective race.
“Even the Reid Commission recommended a 15-year sunset clause for Article 153, but looking at how things are developing, discrimination along racial lines will be a permanent feature in our society,” he rued.
Article 153 of the Federal Constitution is often referred to as the provision that protects “Malay rights” or “bumiputera rights”.
Meanwhile, Arutchelvan also noted how the ideology of multiracial and class-based politics are challenged by mono-ethnic politics.
He said this illustrated the importance of a project for nation-building based on unity instead of divide and rule.
Yesterday, former Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy described the new cabinet as a “big disappointment” to the Indians for failing to appoint an Indian minister.
Anwar had dropped V Sivakumar, who was the sole Indian cabinet member, as the human resources minister in the reshuffle. - Mkini
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