Ex-MP: Indians not jealous, they only want govt to fulfil its promises

 

KKB BY-ELECTION | A former PKR MP today refuted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's statement that the Indian community was upset and jealous of the government's assistance for the bumiputera.

Instead, Edmund Santhara said the community was unhappy with the government due to its alleged failure to fulfil its promises.

"Indians do not have to be jealous of bumiputera rights because it has been enshrined in the Federal Constitution. We understand and accept the special privileges of the bumiputera community.

"But, what (the government) has to give to the minorities is what they have promised in their manifesto.

"Thus, I do not understand what context he was coming from when telling (Indians) not to be upset and jealous," Santhara (above) told reporters when met in Kerling today.

The former deputy tourism minister was asked to comment on Anwar's remarks during a "Soal Jawab Perdana Menteri" talk show aired on national television on Wednesday, where the prime minister reportedly said Putrajaya would assist every community and not sideline anyone.

"We help bumiputera but this is not a zero-sum game (where) helping the Malays means we sideline the others.

"That is why I have stressed to the Indian community not to be upset or jealous of bumiputera programmes. And ask what we should do," Anwar said.

Sin tax

Meanwhile, Santhara also suggested the government use the “sin tax” it collected for the benefit of the non-Muslims in Malaysia.

Sin tax refers to taxes collected from gaming companies and sales of items such as alcoholic beverages and cigarettes.

"We understand that alcohol and gaming are not for the Malays.

"The amount of taxes we collected in 2022 was RM8 billion. If 10 percent or RM800 million from this is channelled to the minorities, of which RM300 million is given to the Indian community, all the important issues this community faced can be solved by 2030," he said.

Santhara, who was in Kuala Kubu Baharu to campaign for Perikatan Nasional candidate Khairul Azhari Saut, said the Indian voters should not hesitate to support PN in the by-election.

"I am asking Indian voters not to believe propaganda that vernacular schools would be shut down if PN wins the election.

"All such rumours are not true, you can see the facts because we used to be in power," he said. - Mkini