Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman has rebutted criticism from Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy for accompanying party members in demanding the resignation of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy.

Syed Saddiq, the youth and sports minister, pointed out that DAP Youth had done exactly the same with regard to Education Minister Maszlee Malik.

"Your own youth wing had demanded that the education minister resign. But when Bersatu Youth does the same, we are accused of betraying Harapan, accused of playing up racial sentiment, accused of being like Umno and PAS.

"This has nothing to do with race. It's about agreeing to disagree, about not suppressing people's right to freely express their viewpoint," he said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Sarawak DAP Youth publicity secretary Abdul Aziz Isa called on Maszlee to resign over the latter's statement about teachers proselytising in Sarawak.

Abdul Aziz later retracted his statement and apologised.

'Don't silence youth'

Syed Saddiq said that as Bersatu Youth chief, he is responsible for allowing his colleagues to air their views.

"So Ramasamy, do not think you can silence the youth," he said.

Syed Saddiq also pointed out that other Harapan leaders had made similar calls against Waythamoorthy – including Ramasamy's colleague in the Penang government, PKR's Afif Bahardin.

"I suggest Ramsamy take action against Afif, who had aired similar concerns to mine. Isn't he your colleague from Penang? Heck, he is even an exco with you," he said.

Syed Saddiq added that Amanah Youth had also called for Waythamoorthy to be replaced.

Ramasamy, who is the Penang DAP vice-chairperson, had accused Syed Saddiq of "insulting" Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir had decided to retain Waythamoorthy despite the controversy. He is also the Bersatu chairperson.

Waythamoorthy, who is in charge of national unity, had faced criticism for making comments critical of the police shortly after the Seafield Temple riots last month.

In the early hours of the investigation, police said the riot was triggered by quarrels between two Indian groups, but later clarified that it was between two groups of different races.

Critics argue that Waythamoorthy's attack on the police during a sensitive period did not help unite the people.

However, his allies say Waythamoorthy was being made a scapegoat for the riots which he was not responsible for.

'Don't teach me lessons'

Ramasamy chastised Syed Saddiq in response, saying that the minister should not be teaching him lessons about politics.

"Syed Saddiq should not teach me lessons, as he has a long way to go in understanding the intricacies of Malaysian politics.

"Those who are living in glass houses should be reminded that they might be challenged, as their performance is not up to their mark," he said in a statement today.

Ramasamy said that anyone asking for Waythamoorthy's resignation should present facts on how the latter was responsible for the temple fracas.

The DAP lawmaker said while he had nothing against Syed Saddiq, the minister, as a member of cabinet, should refrain from being part of the group that met the prime minister to seek Waythamoorthy's resignation.

"Unlike others who have called for Waythamoorthy's resignation, Syed Saddiq stands out as a minister, a person who should take a responsible stand on the matters of the nation."

Although not addressing Syed Saddiq's comment on the DAP Youth call for Maszlee's resignation, Ramasamy pointed out that he had previosuly also criticised those from other Harapan component parties.

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