Vasantha challenges Najib, criticises the other Hindraf
K PragalathPublished: Nov 26, 2009 8:28 AM | Updated: Nov 26, 2009 8:32 AM
A Hindraf leader yesterday challenged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to fulfil the vision of his father and former premier in regards to education and housing rights, especially for the Indian community.
A Hindraf leader yesterday challenged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to fulfil the vision of his father and former premier in regards to education and housing rights, especially for the Indian community.
K Vasanthakumar, boosted by the presence of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim at a dinner to commemorate Hindraf's second year anniversary of a highly symbolic protest rally in the streets of Kuala Lumpur, also lashed out at P Waythamoorthy for claiming to be the Hindraf chairperson.
Significantly the presence of Anwar at this event indicated Pakatan Rakyat's support for Vasanthakumar's faction. Another event organised by Waythamoorthy's Hindraf earlier in the day was not attended by any major Pakatan leaders.
Speaking to packed hall in Klang last night, Vasanthakumar said it was Najib's duty to ensure that the late Razak Hussein's vision for the poor in the country was carried out.
"I challenge you, Najib. Your father led the education committee report in 1956 (Razak Report) that guarantees recognition for all schools.
"Can you convert all partially aided schools in Malaysia into fully aided schools?" he asked.
He also said that Najib should provide homes for all plantation workers as envisioned in the National House Ownership Plan 1974.
Vasanthakumar and another Hindraf leader V Ganabatirao also handed over a 10-point memorandum to Anwar on the plight of the Indian community.
Vasanthakumar said that Hindraf - his faction - will support Pakatan in the attempt to change the government in the central. On the other hand, Waythamoorthy's Hindraf has decided to remain apolitical with its political wing, the Human Rights Party, intending to contest in the next general election.
Resolution to sack Waytha
Although Waythamoorthy and his brother Uthayakumar were understandably not present at this event, their reputations however suffered heavy hammering in the hands of most of the speakers, much to the jubilation of those present.
At the end of the day, a resolution had been passed to sack Waythamoorthy from Hindraf. It is uncertain how this will affect Waythamoorthy's role as the chairperson of Hindraf.
Vasanthakumar said that Waythamoorthy has acted in a cowardly manner by going to the UK when the government came down hard on Hindraf activists in the run up to the 2007 rally.
"If someone does something wrong, can I not question them? When I asked them on the legal suit against the UK government, they are silent. When I asked on Selvarani's death, they are silent," Vasanthakumar told the crowd.
(P Selvarani was a lawyer with Uthayakumar who had fallen to her death from her 17th floor apartment unit in June 2007.)
It was also revealed that Vasanthakumar's group has filed an application at the Registrar of Societies to register Hindraf as a legitimate movement.
Vasanthakumar, labelled as a special branch agent by the other faction, further confirmed that he would be joining PKR later this year in another function.
Uthayakumar, Vasanthakumar, Ganabatirao R Kenghadharan and M Manoharan were the key people who led over 30,000 Indian Malaysian to the streets two years ago.
They were all detained under the Internal Security Act for the role in Hindraf on Dec 13, 2007.
During the detention, Uthayakumar and Vasanthakumar had a public fallout that led to Hindraf's split. They were all released after Najib took over as the prime minister last April.
K Vasanthakumar, boosted by the presence of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim at a dinner to commemorate Hindraf's second year anniversary of a highly symbolic protest rally in the streets of Kuala Lumpur, also lashed out at P Waythamoorthy for claiming to be the Hindraf chairperson.Significantly the presence of Anwar at this event indicated Pakatan Rakyat's support for Vasanthakumar's faction. Another event organised by Waythamoorthy's Hindraf earlier in the day was not attended by any major Pakatan leaders.
Speaking to packed hall in Klang last night, Vasanthakumar said it was Najib's duty to ensure that the late Razak Hussein's vision for the poor in the country was carried out.
"I challenge you, Najib. Your father led the education committee report in 1956 (Razak Report) that guarantees recognition for all schools.
"Can you convert all partially aided schools in Malaysia into fully aided schools?" he asked.
He also said that Najib should provide homes for all plantation workers as envisioned in the National House Ownership Plan 1974.
Vasanthakumar and another Hindraf leader V Ganabatirao also handed over a 10-point memorandum to Anwar on the plight of the Indian community.
Vasanthakumar said that Hindraf - his faction - will support Pakatan in the attempt to change the government in the central. On the other hand, Waythamoorthy's Hindraf has decided to remain apolitical with its political wing, the Human Rights Party, intending to contest in the next general election.
Resolution to sack Waytha
Although Waythamoorthy and his brother Uthayakumar were understandably not present at this event, their reputations however suffered heavy hammering in the hands of most of the speakers, much to the jubilation of those present.
At the end of the day, a resolution had been passed to sack Waythamoorthy from Hindraf. It is uncertain how this will affect Waythamoorthy's role as the chairperson of Hindraf.
Vasanthakumar said that Waythamoorthy has acted in a cowardly manner by going to the UK when the government came down hard on Hindraf activists in the run up to the 2007 rally."If someone does something wrong, can I not question them? When I asked them on the legal suit against the UK government, they are silent. When I asked on Selvarani's death, they are silent," Vasanthakumar told the crowd.
(P Selvarani was a lawyer with Uthayakumar who had fallen to her death from her 17th floor apartment unit in June 2007.)
It was also revealed that Vasanthakumar's group has filed an application at the Registrar of Societies to register Hindraf as a legitimate movement.
Vasanthakumar, labelled as a special branch agent by the other faction, further confirmed that he would be joining PKR later this year in another function.
Uthayakumar, Vasanthakumar, Ganabatirao R Kenghadharan and M Manoharan were the key people who led over 30,000 Indian Malaysian to the streets two years ago.
They were all detained under the Internal Security Act for the role in Hindraf on Dec 13, 2007.
During the detention, Uthayakumar and Vasanthakumar had a public fallout that led to Hindraf's split. They were all released after Najib took over as the prime minister last April.
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