The MIC supremo says there will be no threat to Hindu temples if Umno returns to power in Penang.
GEORGE TOWN: MIC president G Palanivel has slammed Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for making irresponsible statement that Hindu temples would be in danger if Umno returns to power in Penang.
But he added that it was up to the DAP secretary-general on whether to apologise for it or not.
Being a multi-racial administration, Palanivel said the Barisan Nasional federal government was now funding millions to build and strengthen temples and Indian community.
“So it’s wrong to say if Umno comes back to power, it would close us down … it’s wrong.
“It was a irresponsible statement,” he told newsmen at the Caring Society Complex here late yesterday.
Indeed, he claimed Hindu temples were now being demolished in Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states, in obvious reference to happenings in Selangor.
Lim told the state assembly last Monday that “If Umno returns to power, I feel all Hindu shrines will be in
danger.”
State Opposition Leader and Penaga assemblyman Azhar Ibrahim has lodged a police report against Lim on Thursday, accusing him of uttering seditious remarks.
Police are investigating the report under Section 3(1)(e) of the Sedition Act 1948.
Palanivel acknowledged that BN faced the wrath of Indian voters due to series of temple demolitions during the pre-2008 general election period, costing the coalition its traditional Indian vote bank.
But, he said that episode was a thing of the past that BN and Umno would not want to repeat.
“Now we are not doing all that.
“Now PKR is demolishing temples,” chided Palanivel.
He however evaded a direct answer when asked on whether he was making a promise that temples would not be demolished if Umno returned to power.
Money for temples
He said the question of demolition does not arise, but indicated that it would happen only when certain temples needed to be relocated.
But he said the government was now focused to financially strengthen and encourage temples to invest to have recurring revenue.
He said big amount of money was being released now as the government has assumed responsibility to effect economic transformation for the Indian community.
“If not for the government, our community will still be backwards,” the Minister in Prime Minister’s Department said after giving out federal cash aids totalling RM2.285 million to 51 local Hindu temples and Indian NGOs.
He called on representatives of Hindu temples and NGOs to return favour by supporting MIC and BN in the election.
At the start of the function, some 200 people present observed a minute’s silence as mark of respect to the late Penang MIC chairman Senator PK Subbaiyah, who passed away in his sleep on early Wednesday morning April 18.
GEORGE TOWN: MIC president G Palanivel has slammed Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for making irresponsible statement that Hindu temples would be in danger if Umno returns to power in Penang.But he added that it was up to the DAP secretary-general on whether to apologise for it or not.
Being a multi-racial administration, Palanivel said the Barisan Nasional federal government was now funding millions to build and strengthen temples and Indian community.
“So it’s wrong to say if Umno comes back to power, it would close us down … it’s wrong.
“It was a irresponsible statement,” he told newsmen at the Caring Society Complex here late yesterday.
Indeed, he claimed Hindu temples were now being demolished in Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states, in obvious reference to happenings in Selangor.
Lim told the state assembly last Monday that “If Umno returns to power, I feel all Hindu shrines will be in
danger.”State Opposition Leader and Penaga assemblyman Azhar Ibrahim has lodged a police report against Lim on Thursday, accusing him of uttering seditious remarks.
Police are investigating the report under Section 3(1)(e) of the Sedition Act 1948.
Palanivel acknowledged that BN faced the wrath of Indian voters due to series of temple demolitions during the pre-2008 general election period, costing the coalition its traditional Indian vote bank.
But, he said that episode was a thing of the past that BN and Umno would not want to repeat.
“Now we are not doing all that.
“Now PKR is demolishing temples,” chided Palanivel.He however evaded a direct answer when asked on whether he was making a promise that temples would not be demolished if Umno returned to power.
Money for temples
He said the question of demolition does not arise, but indicated that it would happen only when certain temples needed to be relocated.
But he said the government was now focused to financially strengthen and encourage temples to invest to have recurring revenue.
He said big amount of money was being released now as the government has assumed responsibility to effect economic transformation for the Indian community.
“If not for the government, our community will still be backwards,” the Minister in Prime Minister’s Department said after giving out federal cash aids totalling RM2.285 million to 51 local Hindu temples and Indian NGOs.
He called on representatives of Hindu temples and NGOs to return favour by supporting MIC and BN in the election.
At the start of the function, some 200 people present observed a minute’s silence as mark of respect to the late Penang MIC chairman Senator PK Subbaiyah, who passed away in his sleep on early Wednesday morning April 18.
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