KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) and other youth groups have called for P. Waythamoorthy to step down from his ministerial post.
This in the wake of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim's death on Monday night from injuries sustained in a riot at the Seafield temple.
MYC president Jufitri Joha said Waythamoorthy failed in his task and responsibility as the National Unity and Social Wellbeing minister, when he lambasted the authorities for their slow response in the wake of the Nov 26 riot at the Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya.
"This is not the kind of statement that a Minister should make. He was seen as inciting anger among the Indians through his statement."
"He blames the police and this contributed to the death of Muhammad Adib who sustained injuries during a second riot on Nov 27.
"The MYC is very disappointed with Waythamoorthy as he did not portray the image of someone who holds the unity portfolio and who should preserve, sustain and improve the relation among Malaysians," said Jufitri in a press conference at the MYC headquarters, here today.
He said any statement to do with security matters and riots should have only come from the Home Ministry, to ensure the facts are not being misconstrued.
"And if there is any statement from Waythamoorthy, it should be for the people to remain calm and not to add to the public’a confusion, anger and misunderstanding," he said.
Jufitri said Waytha must realise that people were dissatisfied with his performance and as such should have resigned already if he was indeed a people oriented leader.
"The best thing for him to do is to resign now with dignity," said Jufitri, adding that they would also send a copy of the statement to the Prime Minister so that he can take steps to sack Waythamoorthy in the event that the latter does not resign.
He adds that the minister's move in temporarily deactivating his Facebook after receiving brickbats from netizens following Muhammad Adib's death on Monday (Dec 17) also showed that he was not a ministerial material, added Jufitri.
"When he has shut down his Facebook after getting negative comments, it showed that the people were angry with him but he didn't handle it in a gentlemanly way," said Jufitri.
Checks confirmed that Waythamoorthy had indeed recently temporarily deactivated his Facebook page but it is now however back online.
He said that should Waytha not bow to the demands from the council to step down, MYC would make a more concerted effort to ensure that he does.
Jufitri also said that an NGO planning to hold a rally in Penang this Friday (Dec 21) will also make similar demands.
An online petition started by Gerakan Pengundi Sedar (GPS) demanding that Waythamoorthy step down as minister and Senator has currently gained more than 215,000 signatures.
Adib and other fireman from the Subang Jaya Emergency Response System (EMRS) unit were deployed to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya to put out a vehicle fire on Nov 27.
However, Adib was dragged out of the vehicle and set upon by a mob.
He was later rescued by members the public who rushed him to the Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) for treatment and then transferred to the National Heart Institute for further treatment.
Adib was subsequently placed on life support due to his critical condition.
Despite initially showing signs of recovery, his condition took a turn for the worse and he died.