Copingo, a coalition of NGOs and concerned citizens on Indian affairs in Penang, has threatened a protest march against the state government this Saturday.

 

Copingo chairperson N Ganesan said the march, set for 10.30am around Komtar, is to bring attention to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who has allegedly been ignoring the NGO's requests to meet on the issue of the faulty Batu Lanchang Hindu crematorium.

 

Deputy Chief Minister II and Penang Hindu Endowment board chairman P Ramasamy had pleaded for patience when the issue cropped up and had said that the state will be addressing the problem which needs around RM1 million to resolve.

 

However, the Indian NGOs are not satisfied with the progress of the matter.

 

"We must awaken the chief minister from his deep slumber," Ganesan () right said at a press conference in Penang today.

 

"By ignoring our requests for a meeting, Lim has left us with little option other than to take this matter to the public," added Ganesan, who is Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia national advisor.

 

He said the coalition had sought meetings "patiently and amicably" with the CM who is the head of the executive committee on non-Islamic religious affairs.

 

However, Lim has chosen to ignore the coalition, Ganesan claimed.

 

"By implication, he is ignoring to meet with the people’s representatives on matters of direct interest to them.

"All the talk about Indian representatives in his government representing Indian interests is nothing more than a mirage," Ganesan added.

 

Direct discussion

He continued to call Lim to have a direct discussion with the people’s representatives gathered under the Copingo banner.

 

The problems facing the Indian minority community are multifaceted and to a large extent, unique, he said.

 

"We need the state government to develop meaningful plans for the resolution of issues pertaining to the Indian poor in Penang. This a direct responsibility of Lim," Ganesan said.

"We will not go away until the problems go away. And it is our belief the problems will not go away without our involvement,” he added.

 

Ganesan urged all those sympathetic to the causes taken up by Copingo to participate in the march.

He added that Copingo seeks to preserve the interest of the largely voiceless Indian poor of Penang.

 

Copingo claimed it has informed the police and have asked for security cover to be provided for the peaceful march.