Waytha's resignation 'disheartening' to the PM

 

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has described Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (PHM) chief P Waythamoorthy’s resignation from the cabinet as “disheartening”.

“His (Waythamoorthy’s) approach may be different, but he should have came to see me and talked about it before announcing he was going to resign.

“His decision is disheartening, since this was after he had signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BN to champion the Indian community’s agenda,” he was quoted as saying in The Star’s online edition today.

He said Waythamoorthy (left), who was a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department until his resignation on Monday, should have tried to fit in with his colleagues and help implement projects that would help the Indian Malaysian community.

Nevertheless, the premier says he accepts the resignation and wishes Waythamoorthy well on his future endeavours.

'A more approachable government'

“I would like to stress that, in line with my dream to form a more approachable government that always gives help to those who need it, we will implement socio-economic development programmes for the Indian community, as well as the other races,” he added.

Waythamoorthy leads PHM, which is a splinter faction of the original Hindraf movement, and had controversially signed an MOU with BN prior to the 13th general election.

He had urged Indians to vote for BN after the MOU was signed, and was appointed as deputy minister and as senator after the elections.

However, his vocal championing of causes such as deaths in custody had prompted calls from BN ministers - among them Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, and Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein - for him to resign.

Najib himself had ticked Waythamoorthy off for not toeing the government line before.