Everyone Knows Mic No 2 Hints His Feeling Over Inaction On Zamri

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MIC deputy president M Saravanan has alluded to simmering resentment within the Indian community over the lack of court charges against controversial Muslim preacher Zamri Vinoth.
He said failure to prosecute Zamri, despite nearly 900 police reports after he compared Thaipusam kavadi bearers to drunk or possessed individuals, has unsettled segments of the public.
ADSIn a veiled remark when asked if he can be considered among those upset by the apparent leniency granted to Zamri, Saravanan hinted that his feelings on the matter are no secret.
“I don’t want to say whether or not I’m disappointed,” he briefly told Malaysiakini when met at an event in Ayer Kuning, Perak.
“The whole country, (including) the Indians, knows whether we’re disappointed or not.”
Commenting on how the issue could potentially erode Indian support for BN as part of the ruling government, Saravanan warned that the coalition could suffer spillover effects if prosecution against Zamri is delayed any longer.
He said, however, that any possible pull of support is unlikely to affect the Tapah parliamentary constituency, which he has held for four terms now.
“To a certain extent, they (Indians in Tapah) are with us (BN) because we have contributed so much,” he said, referring to the work MIC has conducted in the area.
“But, I dare not say whether they will have the same ecosystem in other (parliamentary constituencies).
“Don’t be surprised - even outside Tapah, the effect (of dissatisfaction over Zamri) will be everywhere,” he added.
Previously, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim highlighted that while justice appears to be swift when it involves accusations against those insulting the prime minister, the judicial process seems to falter in other matters.
He pointed to the lack of action against Zamri as a prime example of this disparity.
Advice to Waytha
ADSOn a separate matter, Saravanan called on Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP) chairperson P Waytha Moorthy to hold comprehensive discussions within the Indian community before attempts to champion related issues.
Noting that Waytha is not the “sole representative” of Indians, Saravanan said a consensus on certain matters must first be established among Indians before advancing issues to higher authorities.
He said this in response to Waytha yesterday, who reiterated MAP’s call for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to convene a special cabinet meeting amid what it described as “rising anti-Hindu sentiments” in the nation.
“If we Indians don’t reach an agreement among ourselves, don’t expect the prime minister to agree (with suggested solutions for issues affecting the community),” Saravanan said.
“Let it be in Parliament, in a cabinet (meeting) or even in a coffeeshop, you must present a collective decision... (if not), it doesn’t make sense.
“Anybody who wants to talk about making special policies for Indians must accommodate other (members of the community) by telling what is your point and seeing whether others agree or not,” he added.
Waytha earlier said he provided “well-justified and historically grounded demands” in his March 25 letter to Anwar calling for a special cabinet meeting amid the controversial relocation of the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur.
He also emphasised that the government must publicly release all relevant records and provide transparent answers on several pertinent points, including whether Hindu temples have ever been included in Malaysia’s development agenda. - Mkini

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