Thosai out, Mongolian food in?
WargaAMAN says it cancelled the event out of respect for S Ambiga and other leaders. On a lighter note, it makes another interesting proposal.
(Free Malaysia Today) – The much-anticipated Thosai stall in front of the residence of Deputy Inspector- General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar has been called off.
At a press conference here today, WargaAMAN chairman A Rajeretinam said the decision was made out of respect for the views of Bersih 3.0 chairperson S Ambiga.
On a lighter note, he did not rule out the possibility of WargaAMAN organising a Mongolian food festival in Putrajaya.
“Why not? If the public supports this idea, we may consider it,” he told FMT.
Mongolia is a sensitive word in Malaysia since it rekindles memories of Altantuya Shaaribuu, the Mongolian national who was murdered here by two police special action unit personnel.
Certain quarters had implicated Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in the case but the latter denied any involvement and the authorities had also cleared him.
However, Rajaretinam stressed that the idea had nothing to do with Najib or Altantuya.
24-hour deadline for ‘thosai telur’
As for the cancellation of the thosai carnival, he said several other leaders including former Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin and DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang had also advised them against carrying out the event, which the NGO claimed was to promote thosai.
“We held an emergency meeting with our members last night after being informed about Ambiga’s stand on the matter and decided to withdraw the plan,” he told reporters.
However, he said WargaAMAN would present Khalid with the “thosai telur” which he had requested if he still wanted it.
Giving the deputy police chief a 24-hour deadline, Rajaretinam said if Khalid made the request a WargaAMAN delegation would deliver the thosai to his doorstep on Sunday.
“We want to know whether he still wants to taste the thosai telur or cancel it. The ball is in his court,” he added.
Rajeretinam also apologised to the public for calling off the event.
“We received hundreds of calls and thousands of SMS where nearly 5,000 people promised to attend the event,” he said.
Quizzed on the DIG’s suggestion to hold the carnival at a field near his house, Rajeretinam said he would let the public form their own opinions about the former’s remark.
“When, it (the burger protest) happened in front of Ambiga’s house everything is perfect. But now, when it comes to him, he says that his house is not suitable.
“Khalid should work for the people not politicians,” he added.
Speaking to FMT yesterday, Ambiga had requested the NGO to reconsider its plan and urged all Malaysians to respect private spaces.
