Stop the anti-Waytha bandwagon, says Ramasamy

(FMT) – As calls mount for his resignation from the Cabinet, support for P Waytha Moorthy came from the north, with Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy saying the minister had no role to play in the mob violence that killed a young fireman.

“I don’t understand how Waytha Moorthy could be responsible for the riots in the compound of the Seafield Hindu temple in Subang Jaya, when he had no role in the first place,” Ramasamy said after the prime minister’s special media adviser A Kadir Jasin said Waytha had lost credibility to remain in the Cabinet.

Ramasamy said Kadir was joining the “populist bandwagon” consisting of those from Umno, PAS, PPBM and PKR, adding that the veteran newsman was reacting “childishly” by holding Waytha responsible for the temple fracas.

Calls for Waytha to resign grew louder after the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, some two weeks after he was assaulted by a mob outside the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple.

Waytha and several ministers had been criticised by leaders from both sides of the divide for accusing the police of inaction when the temple was attacked by another mob a day earlier.

Ramasamy said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had already stated that he was happy with Waytha’s performance.

“If Mahathir is satisfied with the work of Wathya Moorthy, then why is Kadir butting in to say that the latter is a burden to Mahathir?” asked Ramasamy.

“Why all these attacks against Wathya Moorthy? Is it because he is the head of Hindraf, or because he was appointed and could be easily removed or because he belongs a to a numerically small segment of the Malaysian society?”

Ramasamy said he was prepared to talk to Kadir on the issue.

“I might not agree with him on certain issues, but I still respect him for his experience and insights into the various aspects of our society.”