Media Conference Statement (2) by Parliamentary Opposition Leader and DAP MP for Ipoh Timur Lim Kit Siang at Perak DAP Hqrs in Ipoh on Thursday, 17th January 2008 at 11 am:

Keng Yaik with over two decades as Federal Minister must bear responsibility together with Samy Vellu for the marginalization of the Malaysian Indians into a new underclass and should redeem his “political sins” in his last few weeks in Cabinet by speaking up for the Indians instead of undermining their cause for justice

Gerakan Minister for Energy, Water and Communications, Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik, with over two decades as Federal Minister, must bear responsibility together with the MIC President and sole Indian Cabinet Minister for over 28 years, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for the marginalization of the Malaysian Indians into a new underclass.

Keng Yaik should redeem his “political sins” in his last few weeks in Cabinet before the dissolution of Parliament in the next six weeks by speaking up for the Indians instead of undermining their cause for justice.

The least Keng Yaik should do is to defend the Gerakan Youth vice chief S. Paranjothy who had said that the 30,000 Indians had taken part in the November 25 Hindraf demonstration in Kuala Lumpur “to express their frustrations and anger” because the community has been “marginalized, oppressed and ignored”.

Keng Yaik should tell the UMNO Youth leader, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein that Paranjothy had neither committed any wrong nor indiscipline in speaking the truth and blaming Hishammuddin and the Deputy UMNO Youth Leader Khairy Jamaluddin for racial posturing and inciting racial sentiments among Malays to gain political mileage – citing against the former the keris-wielding episodes and against the latter his berating of the Indian news vendors when the UMNO presidential address of Prime Minister and UMNO President, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was not carried in the press the next day as UMNO General Assembly fell on Deepavali, with the next day an annual press holiday.

Paranjothy had described the Indians as “fourth-class citizens” who form the most neglected group in economic terms, as shown by key performance indicators such as tertiary education.

Paranjothy also criticized the government’s hard-line stance against public demonstrations, hitting out at the government for practising double-standards in the issuance of police permits vis-à-vis Barisan Nasional Youth and UMNO Youth.

Gerakan President Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon dared not defend and champion Paranjothy’s right to speak the truth about the long-standing marginalization of the Malaysian Indians in the country, buckling quickly under Hishammuddin’s pressure and ultimatum of a break of ties by UMNO Youth and Barisan Nasional with Gerakan if the new Gerakan chief was unable to give a reply or his explanation was unsatisfactory with regard to Paranjothy’s statement.

Tsu Koon’s immediate response was to dissociate himself from Paranjothy and referring him to the Gerakan disciplinary committee for disciplinary action to be taken – when Paranjothy should be commended as the only Barisan Nasional official to speak up for the marginalized Indians, something even the MIC President had failed to do.

Is Keng Yaik, as the Gerakan elder, prepared to do what Tsu Koon dared not do – to defend and champion Paranjothy’s right to speak the truth and to tell Hishammuddin to end his bully ways as UMNO Youth leader against other Barisan Nasional parties and leaders?

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* Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, MP for Ipoh Timur & DAP Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission Chairman