KKB BY-ELECTION | In a veiled swipe against former deputy Penang chief minister P Ramasamy, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim denies that his government has ignored the plight of the Indian community.
Anwar said leaders who criticise the government over its policies involving the Indian community have malicious intent to confuse them and create distrust towards his administration.
“That’s why I said he is trying to instigate and influence the Indian people to not understand, the one who is actually instigating has vested interests and is actually rich people, and sometimes he is stubborn because his party didn’t give him a position, that is not my problem.
“This is a problem that must be faced within the party, some of those are my friends too, what can I do?” he said during an interview session dubbed “Soal Jawab bersama Perdana Menteri” broadcasted on mainstream media.
He also said the government has never sidelined the Indian community and that various initiatives have been implemented to empower them.
Anwar added that the government is helping every segment of society without neglecting any group.
“We help (the bumiputera) but this does not mean a zero-sum game, helping the Malays means we sideline (other groups), no.
“That’s why I emphasise to the Indian community, don’t be angry or jealous about the bumiputera programmes. Ask what we need to do.
“Citizenship for those eligible, those left behind... 50, 60 years ago born in Malaysia but didn’t get (citizenship), we have resolved that, and this is the first time the Home Ministry resolved so many,” he said.
Previously, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke slammed his former party colleague Ramasamy over the latter’s “don’t vote for Pakatan Harapan” campaign in Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Loke pointed out that Ramasamy is not even providing an alternative to voters to Harapan in his campaign.
‘Harapan has failed Indians’
In response to Loke’s criticism, Ramasamy said Urimai was only asking voters to reject Harapan and DAP to teach the coalition a lesson.
Explaining his stance on the matter, he accused the government of having abandoned the Indian community, especially those in the lower economic rung.
Ramasamy also listed several incidents that had hurt the Indians, including when the prime minister used an offensive slur during a speech.
Anwar previously said he used the word as a citation from a book and did not intend to hurt the feelings of Indian Malaysians. - Mkini
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