The Klang MP counters accusations made by MIC that he was 'sleeping' as he was not even in the manifesto's drafting committee.
PETALING JAYA: The MIC has once again put its foot in its mouth. They accused Klang MP Charles Santiago of sleeping when the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto was drafted.But, today an incredulous Santiago said he was not even part of the drafting committee.
“I just want to clarify that I was not in the Pakatan manifesto committee,” he said.
Last week MIC party information chief VS Mogan accused PKR’s S Sivarasa and Santiago for not ensuring that the Pakatan manifesto contained promises made specifically to the Indian community.
“They are a disgrace to the community. It’s very general.We can’t see anything special for Indians,” Mogan had said.
“What were Sivarasa and Charles doing in Pakatan’s manifesto drafting committee?” he asked.
“Were they sleeping? Do they care about Indian issues? Or where they there just to make up the numbers?”
Santiago countered by saying: “The validity of what he [Mogan] said was wrong as I was not even in the Pakatan manifesto committee.
On the Pakatan manifesto, Santiago said that issues surrounding Indians have indeed been addressed.
“Revisions have been made and issues surrounding the Indian community have been incorporated in the manifesto. These issues are part and parcel of the manifesto itself,” he said.
He added that the manifesto committee will come out in a few days time to make a formal announcement to address these issues.
“The manifesto committee will make a formal announcement on issues such as statelessness and funding for Tamil schools,” he said.
Despite several quarters not being happy with Pakatan’s generality, the coalition defended its manifesto saying it is an inclusive document that is needs-based and not race-based.
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