KK Eswaran, the president of the Indian-based business group, the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Maicci), has lashed out at government critics for negative remarks on the country’s leadership.

The activities of banned movement Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Waythamoorthy and Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commissioner Denison Jayasooria, topped Eswaran's grievances.

eswaran maicci 23_01_2009 “We regret Waythamoorthy's inconsiderate action in circulating a pamphlet tarnishing the image of his own country at a conference with seditious remarks and unjustified statistics, plus a call to the Indian government to impose trade sanctions against Malaysia such as to stop importing palm oil from Malaysia,” said Eswaran ( photo ).

Eswaran was referring to Waythamoorthy's stint in India during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in Chennai, where the self-exiled Waythamoorthy had declared that Malaysian Indians are ill-treated and marginalised.

At a press conference in Petaling Jaya today, Eswaran blasted Waythamoorthy for being ungrateful “to the land he calls home and the land that he has made his living”.

“Firstly, he being a Malaysian who feels Malaysia is his home, (why) would he ever tarnish his home's image in a world convention?”

“Why do we need the interference of a third party to solve our problems...after 52 years of independence and peace we have people like Waythamoorthy (ruining the name of the country),” said Eswaran.

A proper way in approaching gov't

“What he is talking about is not relevant and there is no truth to any of his stories,” he exclaimed.

Furthermore, the businessman reiterated that the issues of minority and majority is not an issue in Malaysia alone (but) an issue in almost all the democratic countries.

Asked about the perception of the Indian community on the matter of marginalisation and their doubts on the BN-led government, Eswaran said: “There is a proper way in approaching the government...and it is not by demonstration and taking to the streets”.

Eswaran stressed that the Maicci had many successful encounters with government and accomplished many feats via dialogue sessions and meetings.

“For instance, when we approached the deputy prime minister to sort the scrap-metal licensing problem...he promised he will take the issue to the cabinet and it was solved not long after,” said Eswaran.

hindraf british petition rally 251107 He added that Hindraf's street protest in 2007 which saw a crowd of some 30,000 people in the streets of Kuala Lumpur, was “in the interest of an individual, not the community”.

Eswaran also criticised Suhakam commissioner Jayasooria for claiming that government efforts to uplift the Indians were delayed and for asking the Indian government, during the convention, to send a task force to survey the situation of local Indians.

denison jayasooria He said statements by Jayasooria, who was once the former executive director of Social Strategic Foundation (YSS), a foundation established by the MIC to eradicate the social ills and problems related to the Indian community, was “certainly not encouraged or be supported substantially”.

Chinese cannot be PKNS general manager

“While he was the executive director of YSS, he repeatedly mentioned that the government, MIC and YSS are working towards the development of the Indians. But presently, he is no longer in YSS, he has changed his tune altogether,” said Eswaran.

eswaran maicci 2 23_01_2009 He explained that government efforts to increase and prosper the participation of the Malaysian Indians is an “on-going” process.

“Proposing foreign representatives to undertake a fact-finding mission to Malaysia is certainly irrational from a person who is sitting in various government missions and Malaysia does not need the interference from other countries,”

“How has the community benefited from all of that...how many problems have been solved ever since?” he asked.

Eswaran also stressed that he was speaking in the interest of the Indian community and in his capacity as an Indian businessman.

Moreover, he said that the public have got to stop thinking that the government should “spoon-feed” them with opportunities and embark on their own efforts to improve their wealth.

low siew moi and pkns selangor “Is the opposition as multi-racial as they promised...look at what happened in Selangor,” said Eswaran referring to the replacement of Low as the acting general manager of Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS).

Beginning Feb 1, Low's position would be taken over by Othman Omar following controversies on the grounds that she is Chinese.

“The BN government is the only government that can lead this multi-racial country ... although we must have an opposition, it must be an opposition that is genuine to the people,” he said.

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