Govt lying about RM2.8bn aid for Malaysian Indians

Waytha Moorth tells of promises after promises when Najib reneged on 2013 pact

KUALA LUMPUR: The human rights movement Hindraf called out as a lie a government statement that RM2.8bn had been spent for the betterment of the Malaysian Indian community between 2012 and 2014.

Hindraf chairman P. Waytha Moorthy said today that the government statement, made by Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah when interviewed by a Tamil daily, was pard of the goverment’s web of deceit and lies.

He said the government had reneged on an agreement with Hindraf in Aprl 2013 for new policies to improve the lot of the Malaysian Indian community.

He said that when the prime minister, Najib Razak, had appointed him a deputy minister in 2013, Najib had promised to set up a new government unit that would prepare new policies and economic programmes particularly for 800,000 displaced estate workers. It would also deal with the problems of the relocation of Hindu temples, statelessness, and education and job opportunities for the poor Indians.

“An annual budget estimated at RM2.5bn was agreed unofficially but nothing transpired but promises after promises,” he said. Waytha Moorthy resigned as deputy minister after eight months.

He had been encouraged by Najib to join the government, as part of Najib’s plans to nullify Hindraf’s strong influence on the Malaysian Indian community. In 2007 tens of thousands had protested in the streets of Kuala Lumpur about demolition of Hindu temples and long-standing grievances of the community.

Erosion of Malaysian Indian support for the MIC and Barisan Nasional was believed to be a major factor in the strong showing of the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition in the 2008 and 2013 general elections.

Waytha Moorthy said Najib’s administration had not only lost the trust of the Malay community but all the trust of the Indian community, which he said suffered human rights violations on a daily basis.