Waytha slams ‘racist’ Guan Eng
(The Star) – The chairman of the banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) P. Waythamoorthy has accused Penang’s DAP-led government of not doing enough for the state’s Indians.
He said the Pakatan Rakyat coalition has failed to live-up to the expectations of the state’s Indian electorate by not solving the problems faced by the Kampung Buah Pala residents.
Waythamoorthy’s disdain was fuelled by the state’s alleged ineffective role in solving the land dispute involving Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang Bhd, Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd and the villagers.
The residents of Kampung Buah Pala, said to be the last Tamil heritage village in Penang, are facing eviction and claim there was foul play in the transfer of the land from the state to the co-operative in late March 2008.
Waythamoorthy lambasted Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for not exercising his power to use the National Land Code and the Land Acquisition Act to settle the problem.
He said the residents were not asking for compensation.
“All they want is to continue living in Kampung Buah Pala and practice their heritage and culture,” said Waythamoorthy in a telephone interview from New Delhi where he was meeting Indian leaders.
He chided Lim for initially having pushed the matter to deputy Chief Minister ll Dr P. Ramasamy.
“This is not an Indian problem. It is a state problem and the DAP leadership was racist in pushing it to Ramasamy,” said Waythamoorthy.
He also accused Ramasamy of being the “DAP’s Indian mandor (overseer)”.
Waythamoorthy also reproached Lim for currently having transferred the issue from Ramasamy to deputy Chief Minister l Mansor Othman.
“Why can’t Guan Eng handle the matter personally as both the deputy chief ministers do not wield the power that he has to solve the matter?” he asked.
He said the DAP’s claim of protecting the democratic rights of the underprivileged was just an eyewash.
Waythamoorthy also alleged that there appeared to be a hidden agenda to get rid of the last remaining Tamil heritage village in Penang.
