-Lim Kit Siang, January 17, 2014. 

Thaipusam commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a Vel (“spear”) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.

It is an occasion for devotees to pray to God to receive his grace so that bad traits are destroyed.

On the occasion of this year’s Thaipusam, let us all vow to uphold justice and vanquish all forms of injustices so as to realise the Malaysian Dream – a united, successful democratic, prosperous and competitive Malaysia where there is justice, rule of law, good governance, religious harmony  and zero tolerance for corruption, and where every Malaysian, regardless of race, religion or region has a rightful place under the Malaysian sun.

In penning the Thaipusam Message, I find it most regrettable that MIC Deputy Education Minister  P. Kamalanathan has still to receive justice for his assault by an UMNO Youth leader although the violent and dastardly act was committed  four days ago on Sunday.

Although UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has issued show-cause letter to the Hulu Selangor Umno Youth leader over the assault incident, why is there still no action by the Police as well as the Education Ministry, as the culprit is a teacher which makes the violence doubly unacceptable.  The teacher who assaulted Kamalanathan should be charged in court without any delay, as well as sacked by the Education Ministry.

Yesterday, the Selangor UMNO State chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar announced that UMNO Selangor has lined up 30 roadshows to “educate” Muslims on the latest controversy arising from Jais illegal and unconstitutional raid on the Bible Society of Malaysia which has further polarised religious relations in the country.

This is the time when all responsible  political leaders and parties should contribute to the promotion of inter-religious understanding and harmony and not to stoke religious tensions and conflict, which Noh Omar is blatantly and recklessly trying to do.

As a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition with two Ministers in the Cabinet, MIC should contribute to the maintenance of religious understanding and harmony and speak up loud and clear to the highest levels in government and party for an immediate halt to the escalation of political activities to stoke religious tensions and conflict.