Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Barisan Nasional must answer to queries by Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia that the federal government’s development plans have not benefitted the Indian community, said Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy.

Ramasamy said the 18-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Hindraf and Najib in April 2013, two weeks before the 13th national election, to address the plight of the Indian poor, should be honoured as it was a legally-binding document.

“If you do not respond to the queries, you would destroy the trust and support that the NGO had in the federal government to implement plans to uplift the Indian community,” he said when met at the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) office along Jalan Macalister yesterday.

“How long do you take to answer the queries by the Indian community that your development plans have no relevance for them? When will you honour the document you signed with the leaders?” Ramasamy ( photo ) asked Najib.

Ramasamy was asked about Hindraf’s query whether the agreed upon socio-economic interventions in the MOU have been addressed in the 11th Malaysian Plan, which was unveiled by Najib on May 21.

“Going by the experience of the past - both recent as well as over several plans, it is very likely that it will be totally ignored,” Hindraf national adviser N Ganesan had told Malaysiakini last week.

The only visible outcome of the MOU was the appointment of Hindraf’s chairperson P Waythamoorthy as deputy minister in the PM’s Department to look after Indian affairs.

However, eight months later,  Waythamoorthy resigned from the job, and his duties were handed over to Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong,  who is now Minister in the PM’s Department, overseeing the PHEB.

Mah, who is Teluk Intan MP, was in Penang yesterday for a one-day working visit to the PHEB, where he earlier stopped by at the iconic RM12 million Murugan Temple, on top of the Waterfall Gardens.

‘I will look into it’

Asked about the MOU and Hindraf’s claims that the BN government has yet to honour the deal between the NGO and Najib, Mah merely said, “I will look into it”.

During a meeting at the PHEB office later, Ramasamy briefed Mah on Penang’s proposal to amend the Penang Hindu Endowment Act, to give the board more powers to run projects to benefit the Hindu community.

Mah ( photo ) said that he would table the proposed amendments in Parliament, and would agree to the proposals as long as it did not contravene any existing laws.

Ramasamy also requested for funds amounting to RM6.2 million for an inclinator (an elevator) to be installed to allow senior citizens and the disabled community to find their way up to the Murugan temple, which can be reached in 20 minutes by walking up 513 steps.

During a press conference, Mah said the PHEB plays a very important role of upkeeping temples and have raised its own revenues, which has provided annual financial aid to needy students.