KUALA LUMPUR: Batu member of parliament, P. Prabakaran has demanded an official apology over the barring of Tamil songs being played at an event hosted by the Education Ministry in Penang last week.
The contested songs known as "Kadavul Valthu" (a worship song) and "Tamil Valthu" were allegedly restricted during a Tamil language carnival, leading the PKR member to question the ministry's involvement in religious matters.
The PKR member said the action had deeply affected the Indian community, as these songs held cultural and religious significance for Tamil schools.
He also said that images of the revered Tamil literary and philosophical figure Thiruvalluvar were also banned at the carnival.
"This is a religious matter for the Indians, why is the ministry getting involved in it?
"I urge the ministry to investigate the matter and apologise to the Indian community," he said during the committee level debate on the Supply Bill 2024.
He suggested that the situation could be the result of internal sabotage inside the ministry and demanded responsibility.
Following the controversy, Penang executive councillor S. Sundarajoo and Bagan Dalam assemblyman K. Kumaran called for intervention from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to prevent such incidents in the future.