Waytha: Pakatan betrayed Indians

GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf today hit out at Pakatan Rakyat for betraying Indians after riding on the ‘Makkal Sakti’ (people’s power) wave to score unprecedented electoral success in the 2008 general election.

Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (Hindraf) leader, P Waythamoorthy, said that Pakatan leaders like Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng chanted ‘Makkal Sakti’ everywhere to woo Indian votes in 2008, only to turn their backs on the community.

He blasted Anwar and company for being cold, insensitive and unresponsive to the plight of the marginalised segment of the Indian community for the past five years, culminating in their arrogant rebuff of the movement’s blueprint.

“Pakatan leaders gave Hindraf a run around before dumping the blueprint. On stage they perform a multi racial political stunt. In reality, they look down on Indians. They only want Indian votes, not their problems,” said Waythamoorthy.

He also hit out against Pakatan state governments for alienating the marginalised segment of the community by demolishing their settlements, burial grounds and religious places in Kedah, Penang and Selangor.

He said that the PKR-led Selangor government had demolished many Hindu temples and settlements over the years.

The ruthless demolition of Kampung Buah Pala in Penang, said Waythamoorthy, was the first sign of Pakatan’s intention of using Indians for piggy-back rides to power before dumping them.

Even though the previous BN government started the condominium project plan, he said Lim’s Penang government could have still saved the village by a stroke of a pen by invoking Section 76 of the National Land Code (NLC) and Section 3 of the Land Acquisition Act (LAA).

“But Lim’s government chose not to do, giving lame excuses. He was directly responsible for the village demolition,” said Waythamoorthy.

Burial ground

Kampung Buah Pala

 
Kampung Buah Pala, known commonly as Tamil High Chaparral due to the population of ethnic Indians, cattle and other livestock, was demolished in August – September 2009 to pave way for a posh condominium project, the Oasis, by Nusmetro Venture (Pg) Sdn Bhd.

Originally the village had 33 households. After the land was alienated, between 2005 and 2007, nine tol holders accepted the original compensation package, consisting of low medium cost flat units and cash, and left the village for good.

The remaining 24 tol holders fought for the land rights until the village was demolished. The land title was transferred to the Penang Civil Servant Cooperative Society on March 27, 2008.

On Oct 31, 2009, the, the new landowner, the cooperative society agreed to build 24 double-storey terrace houses as compensation on part of the flattened village land.

A unanimous decision was reached by 121 delegates at the cooperative society’s EGM that out of the 24 double-storey houses, nine units must be given to the former residents, who left the village after receiving the original compensation.

The remaining 15 houses were given to those among the 24 tol holders enlisted by the Pakatan state government, leaving nine families in a lurch without a single compensation.

Finally the nine families got their homes, double-storey houses, as a compassionate gift from Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s adminsitration.

Waythamoorthy also slammed the PAS-helmed state government in Kedah for demolishing a 100-year-old, 0.8-acre Ladang Batu Pekaka Hindu cemetery in Kuala Ketil in December 2009.

The cemetery was demolished to make way for a RM320 million Kolej Universiti Insaniah (KUIN), an exclusive Malay-Muslim higher learning institute.

Waythamoorthy said again a Pakatan state government refused to use its power under NLC and LAA to preserve the burial ground that represented the history of Tamil Hindu community in Kuala Ketil.

Under Section 94 of the Local Government Act 1976, he said it was the statutory and legal obligation of local authorities to preserve, conserve, manage, operate and fund cemeteries for all Malaysians from all religious and racial backgrounds.

“But the ‘PAS for All’ didn’t. Would the PAS government dare to demolish a Muslim cemetery or Chinese burial ground? Pakatan really betrayed Indians,” said Waythamoorthy.

Waythamoorthy’s Hindraf recently signed an agreement with Barisan Nasional on proposals to solve the Indian community’s plights.

(Source: Free Malaysia Today)