GEORGE TOWN: Former Penang deputy chief minister II Dr P. Ramasamy alleged that systematic steps were being taken by certain state agencies to victimise and terminate the employment of Indian staff.
Ramasamy, who left DAP prior to the state election last year, said the employment of six Indian employees of state agencies had since been terminated.
They included two in the TechDome Science Centre and four employees of the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB).
He said the Penang government had hardly been in office for six months after the state elections in August 2023 and its true character of the multi-racial government had emerged.
"What were the crimes of the six? Their only crime was they were recruited by me when I was the former deputy chief minister and as the head of the PHEB.
"During my 15 years tenure as a person in charge of human resources, I had facilitated the recruitment of hundreds of employees in the various state agencies. I even recruited very senior officials for the post of chief executive officers and others.
"If I had recruited Malays, Chinese and Indians, why only Indian employees are identified to be terminated. The present chief executive officer of TechDome is not an Indian and he has been retained. The same thing goes for non-Indians in other state agencies. Indian employees were recruited by the relevant committees and not by me personally.
"I heard some disturbing news about the Indian staff of the Penang Water Corporation (PBA).
Some of them have been identified for removal because they were recruited when I was in charge of employment. In fact, some individuals are using the present water crisis in the Penang state as an excuse to harass and victimise them. So much so, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had to defend their performance," he said in his latest Facebook post.
According to Ramasamy, Indian entrepreneurs were also being targeted by some state agencies.
He said, recently, an Indian entrepreneur was given notice to vacate his business premises in the Penang Botanical Garden by the Land Department.
"About two months back, the entrepreneur was called to the land office and informed that he had to vacate his premise because 'Ramasamy is no more with the state government'.
"In other words, since I was not there, there was no one to protect him. In fact, after the incident, I had written to the Penang State Secretary about the conduct and mannerisms of the Land Department official.
"On this matter, I have always maintained that without a decent alternative place, it would be injustice to evict the entrepreneur.
"I have instructed my lawyer to look into the matter, and if necessary, file a legal action to stop the unjust eviction," he added.
Ramasamy said, during his tenure as the state executive council member and deputy chief minister II, he initiated a number of housing projects in Penang.
He said he was made to understand that the Kampung Main Road Prai project of sub-division and ownership had came to an abrupt halt.
"State Housing Committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundrajoo seems tight lipped on the matter. He was the same state exco who promised housing for the Prai Kampung Manis squatters with his election victory. Six months and there is not a whisper of the proposed housing project.
"Similarly, the housing project for the Sungai Kecil estate workers on the land that was acquired seems to be doldrums. I have a strange feeling that these housing projects, catering for the Indian poor, have been put on hold. It could be a punishment for the workers because I initiated the projects.'