Waytha throws support behind BN ahead of GE15

Former national unity minister P Waytha Moorthy has thrown his support for BN ahead of the 15th general election.

In a video posted on his Facebook last night, the Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP) president explained that this is after his repeated requests for collaboration with Pakatan Harapan went unheeded.

According to Waytha (above), he and his colleagues from Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) movement campaigned to help Harapan win in 2018.

"After MAP was formed, and even after the Harapan administration was toppled, we (MAP) applied to be included in the coalition, citing our contributions to the Indian community.

"But two years later, despite repeated follow-ups and phone calls, we are yet to get an answer," he said.

Waytha further claimed that every time he brought the issue up with Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Nasution, the latter would assure him that the matter would be discussed at the supreme council level, but there has yet to be any outcome.

"Every time I send him a message regarding this, all I get is a blue tick (on WhatsApp), but my Hari Raya messages always get a reply.

"From this, I got the message that Harapan does not want us," he said.

Waytha alleged that the reason behind the rejection was Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim viewing MAP as a race-based party, that is unneeded in the coalition.

Need for an 'Indian voice'

According to Waytha, no Indian leader since the country's independence has drawn a thorough roadmap for the Indian community's advancement.

"But in Hindraf, we fought for our rights, our development, but we can't keep on fighting (on the streets) forever.

"We need a trusted Indian leader to 'deliver' the struggles made. The Parliament needs such a leader," he said.

On supporting BN, Waytha said he was willing to work with any party that would give him the power to help the Indian community.

BN deputy chairperson Mohamad Hasan even promised him that the coalition's "new leadership" will work with MAP to help the "neglected" Indian community, he added.

'So what if BN?'

Waytha further justified working with BN at a time when the coalition is looked down upon by the Indians, saying that current opposition leaders, including Anwar himself, former Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Perikatan Nasional chief Muhyiddin Yassin, were all former BN leaders.

"Have all these leaders been 'cleansed' after they left BN?

"What I'm trying to say is, we have to achieve political maturity. We should not bother who becomes the prime minister; what matters is whether our rights are taken care of."

Being the minority, Waytha said the only way the Indians can assure their rights and interests are taken care of, is by joining the right coalition.

"We thought Harapan was our friend, and they will give us the chance (to fight for the Indian cause). I even proved myself (while in the Harapan cabinet).

"To me now, the name Harapan or BN does not matter anymore. I just want my community's rights to be taken care of."

Waytha further denied that his collaboration with BN was for his political survival, saying that he began fighting for Indian rights as far back as 2005.

Concluding, he reiterated that it was about time the community moved away from street protests and fought for their rights via a voice in the august House.

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