06/12: Hindraf’s allegations untrue, says Karpal

The Star

Allegations by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) that the Government was carrying out ethnic cleansing and had committed atrocities against Indians in Malaysia are baseless and untrue, said lawyer Karpal Singh.

He said he felt surprised that Hindraf leaders would make such charges and hoped that they would be more responsible when uttering such statements.

He said the manner in which Hindraf's rally on Nov 25 was carried out was not right.

Karpal Singh said the problems of the Indians had not properly been addressed but that the protest gathering had not been properly organised and that “there should not have been any violence involved.”

The DAP national chairman and Bukit Glugor MP, however, said that the DAP was supportive of peaceful demonstrations and questioned the need for permits.

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP – Ipoh Timur) said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby yesterday that the Cabinet should set up a special task force headed by the Prime Minister to resolve the problems faced by the Indians.

“The Cabinet should come out with a new policy for a new deal to end this,” he said.

“The number of Indians in the civil service has also plunged in the past 34 years, from 17.4% in 1971 to 5.12% in 2005,” he added.