KLANG: The Christmas holiday today was spent by at least six NGOs alongside with members of the public in a rally here to demand for the National Unity and Social Well-Being Minister P.Waytha Moorthy (pic) and Human Resources Minister, M. Kulasegaran to resign within 40 days.
The NGOs that participated in the rally include Gerakan Srikandi Malaysia (GSIM), Angkatan Laksamana Bukit Jati Klang (ALBJ), Badan Amal Tarbiyah Sejagat (Batas), Pertubuhan Ikatan Muafakat Serumpun Malaysia (Serumpun), Kebajikan Sejagat Malaysia (Sejagat) and Pertubuhan Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM).
The call for the resignation of the two ministers was in connection with the riots at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya last month.
In the riot, Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, a fireman, 24, suffered serious injuries after being assaulted in a fire-fighting operation in which he participated during a temple riot on Nov.27. He died at the National Heart Institute on Dec.17.
Up to date, 24 people believed to be connected to the riot at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya have been charged.
Meanwhile the organizer of the rally, Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Geras) President Abu Bakar Mohamed alleged the two ministers have failed to ease racial tensions following the temple fracas which has resulted to the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd. Kassim.
“We will organise another rally should action not taken within 40 days on the two ministers,” Abu Bakar told the media.
The rally which began at 4pm started at Royal City Klang Mosque before the demonstrators marched to Dataran Seni Klang.
Abu Bakar also said Geras will send a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V regarding the demand for Waytha Moorthy’s resignation if the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government failed to implement it within 40 days starting Tuesday.
Abu Bakar added, the memorandum will also be forwarded to Sultan of Selangor , Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to remove Standing Committee on Empowerment and Socio-Economic Development and Concerned Government Chairman V.Ganabatirau from his position following his statement on facebook which was believed to have stoked racial sentiments, as reported by a local news agency here.
Prior to the rally, the Malaysian Alliance of Civil Society Organisations in the Universal Periodic Review Process (Macsa) in a joint statement said that Waytha Moorthy played a part in flaming tensions by blaming the police over the fracas instead of demanding the Seafield Temple Committee abide by the laws of our country. We find it disgusting as well as scandalous that the said minister has taken upon himself to absolve himself of blame by partaking in the national mourning over the death of Adib,” it said.
“We seek his immediate resignation as minister and his prosecution under the law for his part in inflaming racial and religious tensions,” it added as quoted by Staronline.
Meanwhile, the former NSTP Chief Editor , Datuk A. Kadir Jasin has also called on P.Waytha Moorthy to voluntarily step down after losing the confidence of the people.
Kadir who is also the Prime Minister’s media adviser said Waytha Moorthy should step down instead of further burdening Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
“I am sorry to say Waytha Moorthy has been given the opportunity and the highest respect to become a Cabinet member but he has wasted it,” Kadir said on his blog on Friday (Dec.21).
Kadir added, Waytha has become a character that is divisive. –Malaysia World News
