DR Mahathir Mohamad has defended P. Waytha Moorthy as unity minister, saying he is satisfied with his performance, as his party’s youth wing demands for the minister’s resignation.
The minister courted controversy with his statements during the riots at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple in USJ25, Subang Jaya.
Asked if he’s satisfied with Waytha Moorthy’s performance, he replied in the affirmative.
“I’m OK with his work performance,” he said.
When asked what does he regret most during the question and answer session before that, Dr Mahathir said: “I’m terrible at choosing people.”
Calls were made for Waytha Moorthy to resign after the death of 24-year-old fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim yesterday, three weeks after he was gravely injured in the temple riots on November 27.
As unity minister, he was accused of failing to reduce racial tensions during the riots last month.
Waytha Moorthy had also said that the police failed to control the situation quickly, resulting in the riots.
“We were told at 2.30am that a group of 50 people armed with steel pipes and machetes have entered the Seafield temple and attacked the people in it, including women.
“It is understood that many have been injured and several vehicles set on fire, and five devotees were taken as hostages before they escaped and managed to obtain the identification cards of several attackers.
“The question is, why was there only one patrol car from the Subang Jaya District Police at 4.15am, while the FRU only arrived at 6am,” he had said.
The calls for him to resign include that from a group named the Gerakan Pengundi Sedar (GPS), which launched a petition on Change.org that has gathered 279,156 as of 4pm.
Meanwhile, on the issue of Umno defectors joining Bersatu, Dr Mahathir said the former Umno members will not be taking over his party.
However, he did not discount the possibility that former Umno leaders that entered Bersatu may eventually end up leading the party after elections.
“There is no way to take over the party until the next party polls,” Dr Mahathir said. – December 19, 2018.
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