URIMAI’S registration as a political party should not be rejected on the grounds that it opposes the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led unity government, said the party’s chairman P. Ramasamy. 

“Just because we are opposed to the government in power, Urimai is still entitled to the democratic and constitutional right of freedom of association,” he said in a statement today. 

He added that the party had appealed to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution to act against the decision by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to reject Urimai’s application in July. 

“If Saifuddin rejects Urimai’s appeal for registration, then we know what to do. Urimai need not be the government’s lapdog to be successfully registered,” he said. 

Following the ROS decision, Ramasamy had then accused the government of rejecting the party’s application because it did not support the PH-led coalition government in the Kuala Kubu Baru and Sungai Bakap by-elections. 

Urimai was formed in November last year by Ramasamy and several others after they quit DAP. 

Ramasamy also hit out at Saifuddin for belittling Urimai at a recent public gathering in Padang Serai in Kedah by questioning how the party could take up the problems faced by Malaysian Indians if it was not even registered or represented in the PH-led government. 

“Saifuddin should not cast the blame on Urimai for speaking up on the neglected rights of the Indian community.  

“If the PH-government continues to sideline Indians in the country, it will be the duty and responsibility of Urimai to speak up without fear or favour. 

“Since Saifuddin talked about Urimai, is it not his responsibility to ensure that the party is registered? We are still entitled to the democratic and constitutional right of freedom of association,” said the former Penang deputy chief minister. – August 13, 2024.