KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu’s Parti Amanah Malaysia (PAN) Youth wants Nurul Izzah Anwar to replace senator P. Waytha Moorthy as a minister.
Its chief, Mohd Hasbie Muda said Nurul was an ideal choice as an elected member of parliament (for Permatang Pauh), following the controversy surrounding the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for unity and social well-being.
He said the public voices were growing louder for Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) leader Waythamoorthy to defend himself and to be replaced.
“I believe Nurul Izzah, being an upcoming politician, has what it takes to be a minister, as she better perceives the people’s sentiments with a moderate approach.
“She has proven her mettle in the Malay-majority parliamentary constituency of Permatang Pauh (in Penang) and mixed constituency of Lembah Pantai (in Kuala Lumpur),” he said when contacted today.
Nurul Izzah herself had stirred controversy three days ago when she quit as the PKR vice-president, as Penang PKR chairman, and all government related posts in Penang and at federal level.
Hasbie added that although Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had chosen Waythamoorthy as a minister, and has his prerogative in retaining him in the Cabinet, there were growing dissenting views by netizens on social media with over 300,000 signing a petition for his ouster.
“Waythamoorthy may have been a worthy choice when appointed as a minister, but his actions in carrying out his duties of late has been consistently disputable.
“As a responsible government that listens to the views of the concerned public, it is time for Waythamoorthy to take a rest,” he said.
Hasbie was asked to comment following the growing call for Waythamoorthy to resign after the death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.
Adib, 24, succumbed to his injuries three days ago, while being treated at the National Heart Institute’s intensive care unit for three weeks.
The fireman was allegedly assaulted while on duty during the riot at the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Seafield, Subang Jaya on Nov 26.
Following the riot, Waythamoorthy, along with three other ministers, had blamed the police for being slow to respond to the clash of the temple’s supporters with another mob purported to represent a property developer who owned the land the temple squatted.