If Waytha Moorthy has to go, so must Maszlee

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 7 years ago · Published on 22 Dec 2018 12:30PM · 9 Comments

Unity Minister P. Waytha Moorthy still thinks he is the leader of Indian rights group Hindraf and is making statements in that capacity instead of a member of the cabinet. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 22, 2018.

P. WAYTHA Moorthy is aggressive, confrontational and suffers from tunnel vision of seeing everything through the lens of race and religion.

He was supremely stupid for some incendiary statements hours after the incident at the Hindu temple at Seafield.

Instead of playing the role of peacemaker and applying balm to a percolating racial situation, the minister of national unity seemed to be wearing his hat as leader of Hindraf.

But there is an ocean of difference between being stupid and rash and being responsible for the death of Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, the fireman who succumbed to injuries after being assaulted by rioters outside the temple.

The crowd outside the temple were agitated long before Waytha Moorthy issued his first statement. Fed on drips of information about the temple being attacked, they were keen to exact some form of revenge.

Among the crowd were Indian gangsters and criminal elements – the likes of whom have been causing havoc in the community and driving up crime statistics all over the country. 

Just a few days ago, an Indian mother had to cremate her 28-year-old son. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was slashed to death by parang-wielding Indian gangsters. 

Edward Rishal S. Reggie did not have a chance in the attack outside a pub in Petaling Jaya.

Indian gangsters are a big problem. They live and breathe violence ‎and spread fear in their community.  They believe they are untouchable.

They need to be wiped out. If the cops go after Adib’s killers and in the process, tame the gangs, they would have done a great service to peace-loving Malaysians.

But it would appear that Bersatu politicians want Waytha Moorthy’s job. They want Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to sack him or force him to resign.

They believe only these courses of action will assuage the anger and hurt being felt by Malays over Adib’s death. Perhaps it will. But it will also reinforce the narrative that race, not the rule of law, defines pretty much everything in this country.

There is no shortage of politicians who want to play up the death of Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim. The fireman was caught in the melee during the Seafield Sri Maha Mariaman temple riots last month. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, December 22, 2018.

The likes of Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman are not too different from Waytha Moorthy. They, too, are playing to the gallery.

Post-ICERD, Malay politicians in Pakatan Harapan feel pressure to display their racial credentials to their bank of voters.

In their minds, getting Waytha Moorthy sacked or forcing him out will boost their standing with their own community. They believe they will be able to feast on this victory for some time.

Waytha Moorthy may well be unsuited to be the unity minister. He may not even be qualified to hold any portfolio in the cabinet. 

But that assessment must be made by Dr Mahathir, taking into consideration a range of factors, ‎including Waytha Moorthy’s temperament and track record over a period of time.

If he has to go because of his propensity to make rash and damaging statements, then a few others from this cabinet should also be shown the door‎. 

Chief among them has to be Education Minister Maszlee Malik. It does seem that not a week goes by without him saying something that gets under the skin of many Malaysians.

Some of his ideas are farcical and a couple of them are downright dangerous. 

His ‎recent statement that teachers from the peninsula teaching in Sabah and Sarawak should make the two states the front line for propagating Islam is divisive, given the religious mix and historical facts of both states.

Like Waytha Moorthy, he, too, seems to have a tunnel vision of seeing things through the lens of race and religion. – December 22, 2018.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Yea, it is time for a reshuffle of the cabinet and drop a few ministers.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • This is the problem with the current government (former opposition leaders).. They forget their place... They must remember they are representing the People now - all Spectrums of Society.. As Ministers, Deputy Ministers... every word that comes out of their mouth must be in the Interest of the People & Nation... not secularising any particular community.. They must take the Helicopter View of all issues and challenges before making statements

    Posted 7 years ago by TTs Take · Reply

  • Waytha Moorthy is not an elected rep. Doesn't deserve to be a minister. He has not shown his credibility to be a Unity minister and historically he has always been an extremist.

    Posted 7 years ago by Muzamil Hanafiah · Reply

  • There is no room for Ministers & Deputy Ministers to be emotional... What they must do is have a pragmatic approach to resolving issues and challenges... in the interest of the people today, future generations and the nation..

    Posted 7 years ago by TTs Take · Reply

  • YAB Dr M, we have seen the performance and capabilities of your cabinet.. Not all are 4 or 5 Star!
    Perhaps, its time for a reshuffle? Although the norm for a reshuffle maybe be 18 months.... imagine the damage that could be done during that period - and during that time the opposition would also strengthen their idiocies and conniving ways that may tend to influence the naive general public...
    YAB, the honeymoon is over.. its time to get real and achieve those outstanding manifestos - which remains a bane to many..

    Posted 7 years ago by TTs Take · Reply

  • Tun M seems to be not in control. Not that stern like before. Maybe the age.

    Posted 7 years ago by It's me GR · Reply

  • Tun M seems to be not in control. Not that stern like before. Maybe the age.

    Posted 7 years ago by It's me GR · Reply

  • In the eyes of the people many ministers need to be replaced. The world recession is coming and Malaysia will not be spared. We are going to go through a lot of pain especially when Malaysia is up to its neck in debt, oil, palm oil and rubber prices are falling, the ringgit is very weak and tourism has dropped by 30%. We need good people in government more than ever now. Tun cannot take his time to reshuffle. Bring back Rafidah Aziz and Mustapha Mohamed. They have gone through thick and thin in this country over the years. We need their experience and expertise more than ever. A cabinet reshuffle has to be now.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lily Cheong · Reply

  • Both didn't have any contributions till now and make a mess out of the ordinary. Should give way for better people especially the education minister post. Young Malaysians need a better wider mindset path to the future and that post really need someone with a highest respect, honor and qualification to steer the younger Malaysians in the future.

    Posted 7 years ago by Will Be Humble · Reply