Johor opposition leader Boo Cheng Hau has challenged Deputy Prime Minister and former Johor MB Muhyiddin Yassin to a debate on the Indian community’s problems in the state.

Lauding PKR’s earlier call for Umno to debate them on the same issue, Boo said, “I deeply believe that there should not be any perception of ‘tribalism’ where Umno represents the Malays, MIC the Indians and MCA the Chinese.

NONE “If political parties are still based on racial lines, there will be no genuine national unity.”

Boo ( left ) made the challenge during his speech at the DAP launch of its 13th general election national theme song in Johor Bahru on Friday night.

“In order to prove that Umno is not a Malay-only party and able to discuss about the plights of Johor Indian community, I am willing to debate with Johor Umno leaders about the Johor Indian community’s problems, especially former Johor Menteri Besar Muhyiddin.

“DAP Johor has always been ready to debate about the plight of any community and ethnic groups as it aims to represent all Malaysians,” said Boo during his speech.

Echoing PKR’s challenge to debate Umno instead of MIC, the ruling coalition’s Indian party, Boo said Umno and BN were responsible for the Malaysian Indians’s woes.

“Umno and BN are the main cause of Indian community's deprived socio-economic state in Johor.

“In fact, Umno politicians were the ones behind the scam of converting the SJK(T) Kangkar Pulai Tamil school site into a petrol station previously,” he said.

State loan usage questioned

Boo meanwhile denied that he was “racist” and had done nothing for the Indians, as claimed in what he called an “orchestrated smear campaign” against him.

NONE “In my limited capacity as Skudai assemblyperson, I have helped Indian Malaysians to appeal for citizenship, getting welfare assistance, making my personal donations to Tamil schools and Hindu temples within my limitations and capacity,” he said.

Boo, who is also DAP Johor chairperson, also said he wants to debate Muhyiddin ( below ) on his handling of a RM600 million loan from the federal government during his tenure as MB, asking why he had not spent it to upgrade Johor's water supply.

christmas school 261211 muhyiddin “The federal loan made up almost one half of the Johor government's  RM1.3 billion total debt as in 2010.

 

“Currently, the Johor government was forced to sell its SAJ Holdings Berhad's assets to Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad, a GLC under the Ministry of Finance, in order to pay off its debt to the federal government.

Boo said he welcomed the DPM to debate with him over the latter’s management of the state finances then, including issues of “Johor Corp, and the dissolved Amanah Saham Johor and Dana Johor”.