PKR's Batu Uban assemblyperson Dr T Jayabalan has denied mobilising NGOs to join a protest against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for allegedly ignoring the Indian community's plight.

Jayabalan said those who made the allegations were looking for a "scapegoat" to blame for the protest, which was held today by a coalition of NGOs and concerned citizens

on Indian affairs in Penang (Copingo).

"I am not involved in this although the person leading the protest, Copingo's chairperson M Ganesan, is a long-time friend," he told Malaysiakini .

"Nothing can influence my relationship with Ganesan but this matter is not about  personalities but issues, like the faulty Hindu crematoriums which must be addressed," added the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) member.

Jayabalan was referring to Copingo's protest march, led by Ganesan, who is also  Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia national adviser, to be held outside Komtar this evening to " awaken the Chief Minister from his deep slumber".

Some 200 representatives from about 20 Indian NGOs and 20 temple committees are to protest against Lim for allegedly refusing three requests to meet

with the group to discuss their problems.

It is learnt that some individuals are pulling out from the event as they felt that they had been misled, claiming they were not aware that the protest intended to cast a negative light on Lim and Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy, who is also PHEB chairperson.

Ramasamy, the Prai assemblyperson, oversees issues related to Indian affairs such as Tamil primary schools and temple development, including providing proper crematoriums for the

community.

'Group has personal agenda'

Jayabalan's name was dragged into the picture when temple committee representative V Manimaran claimed that he was mobilising groups to join the rally.

"Jayabalan's two assistants met with me some time ago to tell me that the CM wants Jayabalan to gather a few NGOs to meet up with him," Manimaran, who is Batu Maung temple committee representative said.

"Later, I met Jayabalan who told me the same. But If I knew the protest was to criticise the CM and Ramasamy, I would not agree to participate in it," he said.

"I thought the gathering was just to seek a meeting with Lim to speak about Indian issues but it seems to me now that some of these NGOs have their own personal  agenda," said the adviser to the Sungai Tiram Veeramuthu Mahamariaman temple.

Jayabalan admitted meeting Manimaran but said it was to discuss temple and crematorium issues, and not to rally NGOs against the state government, which Manimaran was part of.

Manimaran has now refused to join the protest after a photograph of him, accompanying Ganesan at a press conference on Thursday, was splashed all over the local and online media this morning.

He found no reason to join such a protest, he said, when Ramasamy was helping to improve the plight of the Indian community in Penang, including getting new incinerators for the crematoriums, which would cost the state about RM2 million.

'Do it the right way'

Meanwhile, Ramasamy said Lim is not likely to meet with the NGOS, especially Ganesan, who had allegedly defamed him and the chief minister during a press conference on Dec 4 last year.

It is learnt that Lim is suing Ganesan for reportedly saying that he and Ramasamy had sent "thugs to disrupt" an NGO meeting at the Caring Society Complex on Nov 30.

"Ganesan is not honest but if the NGOs want to protest, we will not prevent it as the Pakatan state government believes in the freedom of expression and right to assemble. We are the most free state in the country," Ramasamy said.

He described the crematorium problem as a "small issue" as the state government was already working on it, while the bigger issue is more like increasing PHEB's allocation for scholarships for poor Indian students from only about RM150,000 in 2010 to about RM500,000 this year.

The state government also applied to have the first Tamil secondary school in the country located in Penang, an effort which all quarters, including those in BN had supported, he added.

 

"As a state government, we are not merely looking at the crematorium problem but addressing the entire Indian and Hindu community issues such as education, employment and temples, which have been neglected by the previous BN administration prior to 2008," he explained.

Ramasamy reiterated that he was prepared to meet anyone to discuss ways to improve the lot of the Indian community.

"But do it professionally and honestly, instead of purposely attacking or threatening us, for example, sending dead dogs to us," he added.