SEVERAL Indian lawmakers today hit out at parties responsible for barring participants from singing Tamil hymns as well as for removing a Tamil poet’s picture from a banner at the National Tamil Language Carnival held in Penang last week.

They called on the education minister to investigate the barring of the “Kadavul Valthu” (religious hymn) and “Tamil Valthu” (Tamil hymn) from being sung at the event, and the removal of Tamil philosopher and literature icon Thiruvalluvar’s image from the carnival’s banner. 

Both these hymns have been sung regularly at the opening ceremony of Tamil events.

Batu MP P. Prabakaran said such a move has hurt the feelings of the Indian community, adding that this was a discriminatory move. 

He demanded those responsible for the incident to apologise over the matter. 

“These songs have been part of tradition for Tamil schools. Why is the Education Ministry getting involved in a religious matter related to the Indians?” Prabakaran questioned. 

“This is a huge discrimination and also injustice for Tamil schools as well as the Indian community,” he said in parliament today. 

On the removal of the Tamil poet’s picture from the banner, Prabakaran said that even Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had quoted the famous icon during his Budget 2024 speech in parliament last month. 

“What are your actual intentions? Why are there such sensitive issues being played up in Tamil schools?

“Even when PMX (Anwar as the 10th prime minister of Malaysia) empowers the Tamil language, this looks like a sabotage from people within the ministry itself. 

“I request the minister (Fadhlina Sidek) to investigate and I strongly request the department to apologise to the Indian community for the incident that occurred last week.

“Action needs to be taken,” he added. 

Earlier, it was reported that the two hymns were banned from being performed at the launch of the event, while Thiruvalluvar’s picture was barred from being displayed at the Tamil school event. 

Similarly, Jelutong lawmaker R.S.N. Rayer also took a swipe at those responsible for the hymns to be barred at the carnival. 

He said that the matter had blown up among the Indian community and was a hotly debated topic in Penang. 

“I demand disciplinary action be taken against the Education Ministry official involved in making the blunder,” he said. 

Segamat MP R. Yuvaneswaran, meanwhile, urged for a special committee to be established to eliminate such sensitive issues from recurring in the future.

He also urged Fadhlina to be transparent on the action taken, asking her to inform the lower house once it is meted out. 

“It was sabotaged by some irresponsible people but I’m sure the minister did not come up with such orders or instructions,” he said. 

Immediately after the event, the Penang Education Department stated that the ministry never banned any traditional song performance at language, arts and cultural events. 

It acknowledged the incident and ensured that such a situation would not recur in the future. – November 27, 2023.