SOME 150 people protested at Putrajaya Mosque today, demanding that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy get the sack following the death of a fireman who was assaulted during a riot at a temple last month.

Gerakan Pembela Ummah, which led the protest, said Waytha Moorthy, who is in charge of unity, had fanned racial sentiments that led to the violence, which ultimately killed 24-year-old Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.

Ummah chairman Aminuddin Yahaya said the group wants Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to give the boot to Waytha Moorthy, as well as Human Resources Minister M. Kula Segaran, over the unrest at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya.

He said Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari should sack exco V. Ganabatirau, who had also issued statements that have been blamed for inciting racial sentiments.

“We have submitted a historic memorandum to the prime minister, calling for the sacking of the unity minister, Waytha Moorthy, and the human resources minister, who have divided the people.

“We also want the prime minister to advise the Selangor menteri besar to sack Ganabatirau.

“These are the people who caused the chaos. Adib’s death is due to their attitude. We demand justice. We demand that those who beat Adib and caused his death be brought to justice as soon as possible,” Aminuddin said in his speech to protesters this afternoon.

He said Ummah has collected 300,000 signatures for its petition urging Dr Mahathir to sack Waytha Moorthy.

Aminuddin led the protesters to the building housing the Prime Minister’s Office to submit the memorandum.

The gathering was closely watched by police and members of PAS’ volunteer corps, known as Unit Amal.

Protesters shouted “Hidup Islam” (Long live Islam), “Bangkit Melayu” (Rise up, Malays) and “Keadilan untuk Adib” (Justice for Adib) as they marched the 500m to the Prime Minister’s Office from the mosque.

Aminuddin and a few other leaders of Malay-Muslim groups were allowed into the building to hand over the memorandum, which was received by the prime minister’s special officer, Abu Bakar Yahya.

Among Waytha Moorthy’s statements that Ummah took issue with were his claim that police had been slow to contain the violence.

Waytha Moorthy, Kula Segaran, Ganabatirau and two other cabinet members, namely Gobind Singh Deo and Dr Xavier Jayakumar, issued a joint statement on November 26, following the first night of rioting at the temple.

They slammed Subang Jaya police for describing the violence as a fight between “two Indian gangs” when the masked men who had tried to secure the temple grounds in preparation for the house of worship’s relocation were Malays.

Malay-Muslim groups said the politicians’ statement led to a riot in the wee hours of the following day, during which Adib was attacked.

The fireman was allegedly pulled out of his emergency rescue vehicle and beaten.

The Ummah memorandum called on police to investigate Waytha Moorthy, Kula Segaran and Ganabatirau under the Sedition Act and Penal Code.

The group also wants the temple committee to apologise to all Malaysians for saying Adib was run over by a fire truck, and not beaten.

Adib died at the National Heart Institute, where he had been warded, on Monday. – December 21, 2018.