The Indian Progressive Front (IPF) today urged former deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, P Waythamoorthy to stop issuing statements that can tarnish the image of the government and Prime Minister Najib Razak.

 

IPF President M Sambanthan said Waythamoorthy's call for Najib to step down shows that he (Waythamoorthy) was trying to conceal his own failure while being deputy minister.

 

"I would also like to refute Waythamoorthy's claims that the government had failed to help the Indian community because thus far the government had provided various assistance to the Indian community and the latest is Najib's announcement to allocate RM100 million a year to help Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil," he told Bernama when met at Wisma Bernama, in Kuala Lumpur today.

 

Sambanthan was commenting on statements issued by Waythamoorthy that the government under Najib's leadership had failed to fulfill promises made to the Indian community.

 

Waythamoorthy had accused Najib of cheating the Indian community and failing to honour his promises to them.  

 

The IPF leader also chided Waythamoorthy for resigning his posts, and his claims that he could not meet Najib and that his proposals for the betterment of the Indian community was not received.

 

"By right, as the deputy minister, he should represent the Indian community in the government and call upon all Indian community leaders to discuss programmes that can benefit the Indian community.

 

"But for the nine months that he was the deputy minister, he had never called the Indian leaders, and in fact had kept away from us and that is not right," he said.

 

Sambanthan hoped the Indian community would not be influenced by Waythaamoorthy's claims and attempt to run down the government, for his own benefit.

 

Last Monday, Waythamoorthy who is also the Hindraf leader resigned as the deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department as well as the post of senator.

'Weak leader'

Meanwhile, MIC Youth today described Waythamoorthy as a weak leader for putting the blame on Najib for his (Waythamoorthy's) failure to honor his promises to the Indian community.  

 

Its chief C Sivarraajh said that the former asking the prime minister to step down was ridiculous because Najib had already executed various initiatives to help Indian community.

 

"What our PM and BN are doing is a long term and permanent solution for Indians. But what Waytha wants is an ad hoc solution just to project his success during his tenure as senator and deputy minister.

 

"I would say, Waytha does not show quality leadership character, he should have remained in the system and continue his efforts to resolve and bring changes to the community...not wash hands just like that and blame PM to cover his failure.

 

"I believe he has been pressured by Hindraf to quit because of his slow performance after being appointed as deputy minister," Sivarraajh said in a statement today.   

 

- Bernama