Focus on problems in 13MP, not lawmaker's May 13 remark - Urimai to DAP

An Urimai leader has berated DAP lawmakers for trying to divert public attention from the weaknesses in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) by harping on a PAS MP’s May 13 remark.

Urimai secretary Satees Muniandy said whether Pendang MP Awang Hashim is guilty of any offence for his remark would be up to the Dewan Rakyat speaker or Parliament’s Rights and Privileges Committee to decide.

“However, what the Jelutong MP (RSN Rayer) has done is to shift the public’s focus from the content of 13MP to the racial sentiments surrounding May 13.

“MPs from Pakatan Harapan are fully aware of the serious shortcomings in the 13MP tabled by the prime minister.

“Unable to defend the indefensible, they have resorted to distracting the rakyat through diversionary tactics,” he said in a statement today.

Two days ago, the Dewan Rakyat erupted after Awang zeroed in on provisions for Chinese new villages, questioning why similar attention wasn’t afforded to the bumiputera.

“We agree that funding for Chinese new villages is not a problem. But clearly, in 13MP, there is no specific development for the bumiputera, and when we look back at the May 13 incident, one of the elements was economic pressure on the bumiputera.

“That’s why 1MP to 13MP exist - to rebalance income and the economy among the races. But 13MP has nothing specific for the bumiputera.

“Is the government trying to bring back another May 13 incident?” Awang asked.

Yesterday, Rayer filed a motion to refer Awang to the Parliament’s Rights and Privileges Committee over the statement, stressing MPs do not enjoy absolute immunity under parliamentary privileges.

Earlier today, DAP senator Dr A Lingeshwaran called out Perikatan Nasional’s non-Malay allies over their silence on Awang's remarks, mentioning Urimai and P Waythamoorthy’s Malaysian Advancement Party, among others.

Nothing for Indians

Touching on the 13MP, Satees pointed to the contrasting statement made about the Chinese and Indian communities.

Citing an example, the Urimai leader stated that the development of Chinese new villages was explicitly mentioned in 13MP but there were only vague details on addressing issues plaguing the Indian community.

“We do not oppose specific plans for the development of Chinese new villages within 13MP. However, what about the Indian community, who are still living in estates and urban fringe squatter areas?

“After nearly 70 years of independence, not only is home ownership among Indians still alarmingly low, they also frequently face racial prejudice when trying to rent homes.

“What is the national policy to address this? If the development of Chinese new villages can be explicitly included in 13MP, what prevents the government from addressing the decades-long issues faced by the Indian community?” Satees asked.

He lamented that instead of raising questions on the matter, some Harapan leaders had resorted to falsely assuring Indians that 13MP would uplift the community.

Satees also challenged Rayer or any other DAP MPs to an open debate on the matter.

“If they have the courage, they should accept this challenge.

“Or, are they only bold when carrying out the agenda of the ‘towkays’ (bosses) by hiding behind the ghost of May 13 to distract the rakyat?” he questioned.

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