Where did the RM540mil go, Waytha asks MIC - Malaysiakini

Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia chairperson P Waythamoorthy today demanded MIC president G Palanivel explain how the party had spent a sum of RM540 million purportedly allocated by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for the Indian community.

Waythamoorthy was referring to the sum which was mentioned by Najib himself shortly after Waythamoorthy's resignation as deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department earlier this year.

"Hindraf demands that the MIC leader either confirms or denies that the said sum was delivered to the Indian community. If it has been delivered then they (the MIC) are accountable as to how this sum was disbursed to the Indian community," he said in a Facebook statement.

"If it is not true then Palanivel (left) should come clean and say the prime minister was not telling the truth," he added.

Waythamoorthy warned that if the plight of Indians in the country continues to be unattended, the community would soon go to a "point of a return".

"The communities could soon go into a point of no return like the blacks in America and England- living in ghettos," he said.

Waythamoorthy said that if MIC does not provide clarification within the next seven days, it would amount to a "tacit admission" that the PM was not telling the truth.

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'MH17 can't save Najib from Isma and Perkasa' - Malaysiakini

While Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's decisive handling of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 has earned him a popularity boost, it is unlikely to be sustained back home where he needs to juggle right wing groups such as Perkasa and Isma, reports the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

The Hong Kong-based newspaper heaped praise on Najib for his successful negotiation with rebel leader Alexander Borodai to secure the bodies of 298 victims on board Flight MH17 which was believed to have been shot down and crashed in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.

"The West only seems to remember Najib and Malaysia for the poor handling of Flight MH370, which vanished in early March and remains missing.

"But, by striking an agreement with Borodai, he achieved something tangible, which the political heavyweights failed to do despite grandiose speeches and threats of sanctions," it said.

SCMP quoted Southeast Asian politics expert Alan Chong at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, as saying that Najib's manoeuvring in the crisis was not unlike how he deals with matter back at home.

"The way Najib handled the MH17 challenge boils down to his modus operandi.

"As a seasoned politician, using back channels and cutting deals are classic moves from his playbook, similar to former prime minister Mahathir (Mohamad)," he was quoted as saying.

'Purported links'

However, the newspaper noted that at home, the premier also carried much baggage including his purported links to murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu and involvement in a controversial submarine deal when he was defence minister.

"Allegations of corruption remain rife and there are structural issues with the economy. Proper distribution of benefits to large swaths of society remains problematic as well," it said.

More pressing, the newspaper notes, is the rise of extremist groups such as Isma and Pekasa which have been spouting right-wing rhetoric.

"While the government will likely take up positions that support the mainstream Malay-Muslim opinion in the country, having vocal groups like Perkasa and Isma backing up the government will further alienate some segments, therefore denting Najib's popularity," S Rajaratnam School's Malaysian programme associate research fellow Afif Pasuni, was quoted as saying by SCMP.

It also quoted Malaysian Bar Council president Christopher Leong (right) as saying if Najib failed to manage these elements, then his popularity will quickly die out.

"If Najib is not seen to be handling the extremist elements firmly and decisively, then much of the shine on his star would wane.

"A substantial part of urban Malaysia is forward thinking and moderate, whilst a significant number in rural areas will follow the direction and tone of a strong leader. Najib needs to be that leader," he said.

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