Hindraf 'very disappointed' at Pakatan manifesto

Hindraf has expressed “extreme disappointment” in Pakatan Rakyat’s recently-launched manifesto, saying that it has neglected the interests of the Indian Malaysian community. 

“Our disappointment is deep and distressing - caused not so much by what it says but by what it does not say. 

“Pakatan Rakyat has chosen to completely ignore the needs and interests of the Indian community in the country in its election pledges and in that one stroke has said so many things,” said the group’s chairperson P Waythamoorthy in a press statement today. 

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has previously rebutted similar complaints about the manifesto by saying that its promisestranscend racial boundaries.

However, Waythamoorthy pointed out that the manifesto makes promises specific to the Malays, Chinese Malaysians, Orang Asli communities, armed forces veterans, and Felda settlers. 

“The provisions there do not seem to transcend racial groups and subgroups. Enough has been said of Pakatan Rakyat moving away from racial politics but that is more a statement of their intent than the frame for their policies. 

“They have been using this once too often as a cover to ignore the problems of the Indian poor and marginalised,” he said. 

[More to follow]