YOUTH leaders from the ruling coalition partners are worried that P. Ramasamy’s recent remarks regarding the Malays in the public sector may affect their support base in the coming state elections.

They fear that Malay voters will turn their backs on Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional following the Penang deputy chief minister’s ill-timed statement.

They want DAP to take action against Ramasamy to ensure that there is minimal backlash.

Penang PKR information chief Amir H. Ghazali said if Ramasamy’s statement is not acted upon, voter support, especially among young people, will be affected.

“If this matter is left unaddressed, without any action taken against Ramasamy, we fear that it will adversely affect support for PH, especially from the young voters.

“So it needs to be dealt with internally, as a PH family,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Amir, who is also deputy head of Permatang Pauh PKR, said as a PH component partner, PKR has been offended by the remarks.

“We are not satisfied. Ramasmay has been known to be making such insensitive remarks for some time now. As a senior leader, he should not be making such statements,” he said.

“He should have been wiser in dealing with racial politics.”

In a statement last week, Ramasamy urged the government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to reform the civil service so that it is not dominated by only one race, the Malays.

He said there must be an overhaul in the public service to reflect the ethnic composition in Malaysia, which is diverse.

In response, Anwar has said the view is Ramasamy’s personal opinion and does not reflect DAP’s or PH’s stand.

He also said the government will not consider any proposals to reduce the dominance of Malays in the public-service sector.

Amir said Penang PKR wants DAP to take action against Ramasamy immediately because he “is not good at managing racial issues” in the state.

“As friends in PH, we propose that the national and state DAP leadership take appropriate action internally because the issues he expresses are not PH’s policy,” he said.

“Ramasamy does not represent PH’s position. New voters will be confused by his remarks, mistaking them as DAP’s stance. DAP must take firm action.”

Tasek Gelugor Umno Youth deputy chief Muhammad Yusuf Abdul Ghani is also concerned that Ramasamy’s remarks will alienate Malay voters from Umno, which is now part of the unity government.

He fears that Malay voters in Penang will switch to other Malay parties in the coming state elections if no action is taken against Ramasamy.

“This kind of statement will have a direct impact on Umno because Umno sits together in a unity government,” he said when contacted.

Yusuf said Umno leaders must counter Ramasamy’s remarks and continue to defend Malay and Islamic rights.

“I hope the Umno leadership will come forward with a counter statement,” he said.

“We have never run away from the struggle, we always raise it in our struggle. But only the Malays in Umno know this, those outside are not aware of it.

“So to some extent, the Malays who are not Umno members will feel that Umno has run away from its struggle.

“We don’t want to leave it alone. Of course it will affect Umno.”

In his explanation, Ramasamy said his statement was a personal stance and claimed that it has been distorted by the media.

His remarks angered not only the opposing coalition but also fellow PH leaders.

Amanah leader Mohd Sany Hamzan has called for Ramasamy to be sacked as deputy chief minister.

On Sunday, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said DAP will use the party’s internal channels to address the issues raised by Ramasamy. – February 14, 2023.