KUALA LUMPUR: It is up to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to decide whether P. Waythamoorthy should step down as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department following the death of a fireman during the recent temple riots.
Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad said that this is because Waythamoorthy is a member of the Cabinet so it is only right for the Prime Minister himself to decide on the issue.
“It is up to Tun Dr Mahathir. The Cabinet was formed (by Dr Mahathir). It is left to Dr Mahathir to consider and take into account the respective views (of the Cabinet members among others).
“The extent of Waythamoorthy’s involvement in the case that led to the (riot) incident needs to be investigated (by the police),” said Khalid after officiating the Solidarity for Humanity: The Journey of Nur programme at Menara DBKL here today.
He was responding to calls from Umno Youth for Waythamoorthy to relinquish his ministerial post in charge of unity following the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.
In a statement, Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki demanded Waythamoorthy’s resignation over the latter’s purported role in worsening the temple riots, among others.
Last night at the National Heart Institute (IJN), the 24-year-old fireman succumbed to his injuries sustained from being beaten up by a mob on the second night of rioting at the Sri Maha Mariamman temple at Subang Jaya on Nov 27.
Khalid cautioned that there is a need to wait for police investigation into the matter to be wrapped-up first to determine if Waythamoorthy played any role in the temple riots.
He reminded that the Indian community must not be faulted for the actions of a small number of people.
Khalid personally felt that the ones who really deserve the blame for the riots were the group who came down and attacked the temple on Nov 26.
He also said that the blame should also be on certain groups who went too far in defending the temple.
“As for how far Waythamoorthy’s involvement is in the riots, we need to examine (the results of police investigation). The police have interviewed several parties.
“Action must be meted out against those who rioted and killed (Muhammad Adib). We hope that the police would continue its probe and prosecute those involved,” he said.
Earlier during his speech while launching the programme, Khalid warned the people over efforts by certain quarters to trigger conflict that could split unity among Malaysians.
“Whether we realise it or not, there are efforts to trigger fighting and cause disunity within our society.
“This gives a (false) picture that Islam leads to disunity and fighting between Muslims and non-Muslims.
“There are efforts (by certain quarters) to incite tension between Muslims and non-Muslims without them (perpetrators) thinking on the implication of their actions.
“Such action contravenes with the teachings of Islam,” he said without naming the parties behind these machinations.
Khalid added that as a result the programme - which is a New Year celebration with emphasis on strengthening unity among the people regardless of race or religion among others - is timely.
“I hope that more than 10,000 city residents would turn up to celebrate the Solidarity for Humanity: The Journey of Nur event that would be held on Dec 29 and start at 5pm until 12 midnight at Dataran Merdeka,” he said.
Also present were Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan and Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization (MAPIM) president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid.
The event would be conducted by MAPIM and Falah Biz Sdn Bhd with the cooperation of Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
