Latest news with #Urimai
Free Malaysia Today
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Indian voters not flocking to you either, Urimai man tells PN
Selangor Urimai chief K Gunasekaran said PN cannot afford to rely on empty promises and token figures if it genuinely wants to win over Indian voters in the next general election. PETALING JAYA : An Urimai leader has urged Perikatan Nasional (PN) to engage 'real leaders' from the Indian community in order to win their support, saying they are not flocking to the opposition despite their discontentment with the government. Selangor Urimai chief K Gunasekaran said this was evident from the ethnic make-up of the turnout at the Turun Anwar rally on Saturday, where he said rally-goers were mostly from the Malay community. In a thinly veiled swipe at PN component Malaysian Indian People's Party, he said the opposition coalition failed to recognise 'true Indian leadership' with actual grassroots support. 'The Indian community is not happy with the current Madani government. However, let's be clear that Indians are not rushing towards PN either. 'The problem lies in PN's failure to recognise true Indian leadership. Instead, they have been pushing forward individuals who have little to no connection with the grassroots. 'At the rally, two Indian speakers were given the stage, but both lacked familiarity and credibility with the community. Their presence did little to inspire confidence,' he said in a statement. MIPP president P Punithan, a PN deputy chairman, was among those who spoke at the Turun Anwar rally, leading the mostly Malay crowd in Tamil chants. Gunasekaran said PN could not afford to rely on empty promises and token figures if it genuinely wanted to win over Indian voters in the next general election. 'Engage with real Indian leaders, those with credibility and proven grassroots support. Present a clear and focused manifesto for the Indian community which directly addresses long-standing economic, educational, and political challenges,' he said. PN recently began talks on a united opposition front with the likes of Urimai, Muda, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia. Urimai chairman P Ramasamy had voiced support for the proposal, arguing that it was not the same as becoming a formal member of PN.
Focus Malaysia
3 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
On-the-ground Ramasamy: ‘Turun Anwar' rally attracted '150k-200k turnout despite slight shower'
THE Turun Anwar rally yesterday (July 26), was a tremendous success in terms of the numbers that turned out; with the crowd stretching from Sogo to Masjid Negara, it was a virtual ocean of crowd. The conservative and deliberate attempts to convey picture of 10,000 to 15,000 participants pales in significance to the actual turnout from 150,000 to 200,000 – even the slight shower did not dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd. Some leaders of the opposition could have exaggerated the extent of the size of the crowd that swelled on the Saturday afternoon. But the numbers were there to prove beyond doubt that it was decisive rally that wanted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to relinquish his position. It was essentially a proverbial case of Anwar getting the taste of his own medicine in calling for the reformasi movement when he was in the opposition. Mostly all the senior leaders of Perikatan Nasional (PN) – from centenarian twice former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to the coalition's chairman/Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang – were present to address the crowd on why Anwar has to go. Non-Malay rally-goers Judicial interference, the deliberate use of the MACC to prosecute the opposition leaders, the downplaying of incidents of corruption among leaders of the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led coalition, the spiralling cost of living, the hypocritical package of sweeteners, Anwar's own personal involvement in sexual misconduct and plenty other issues were raised as to why he has to go. Although the those who gathered were mainly Malays coming from different states, there was significant presence of Chinese and Indian participants. Gerakan brought the Chinese crowd while Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party) and the MIPP (Malaysian Indian People's Party) roped in the Indian crowd. Urimai's supporters from Penang, Selangor, Federal Territory and Negeri Sembilan marched together from the 'famed' Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Hindu temple in Jalan Masjid India to join the crowd at Sogo. Urimai deliberately made the starting point at the Hindu temple that was forcefully relocated under the direction of Anwar supported by the shameless Indian sycophants in the DAP, PKR and MIC on March 27 to make way for the Masjid Madani. The temple has yet to be relocated and if Anwar and his government falls in power, I assured the crowd that the Hindu place of worship 130-years old would remain in the present place. Although I am not superstitious, many Hindus believe that Anwar's growing unpopularity could be due to his forceful and undemocratic move to relocate the historic and heritage temple that was built during the colonial days. Remember that it was on the same date in the late 1990s that Anwar was responsible for forcefully relocating a Hindu temple in Kampung Rawa in Penang arising out of ethnic and religious clash be Hindus and Muslims. Yesterday's rally was the beginning and not the last in the public wanting the removal of Anwar from holding the position of prime minter. With a matter of two-years, Anwar has proven to be an ineffective leader who says one thing for public consumption and does another for political expediency. Anwar is not interested in managing the country to the best of his ability but to stay as premier for as long as he can. There is general feeling in the country that Anwar has outlived his usefulness and has to go before the country plunges into further the crises. As the Malays have made up their mind that Anwar has to go, the Chinese and Indians must decide sooner or later. Sitting on the fence expecting Anwar to emerge miraculously from the present crisis is nothing but a very tall and impossible order. Asking questions like who is going to be Anwar's replacement and others seem to be planted by the cheerleaders seeking to prolong his stay in power. Anwar wants the opposition to take the parliamentary route to decide whether he should remain the PM or not by passing a vote of non-confidence knowing very well that they don't have the required numbers. As one opposition leader aptly pointed out, taking the democratic route of mass public gathering is much more effective in showing Anwar's standing than the indirect parliamentary route. – July 27, 2025 Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Urimai threatens legal action over ban of non-Penangite traders
Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow had said traders from outside Penang were not banned, but allowed to organise Indian-related sales fairs between April and June. GEORGE TOWN : A former Penang assemblyman says he will consider taking legal action against the state government over a policy barring out-of-state Indian traders from organising fairs. Urimai secretary Satees Muniandy said the move to restrict traders was unconstitutional and discriminatory, noting that the Federal Constitution prohibits discrimination by public authorities based on place of residence or business. 'Should the state continue to ignore these calls, Urimai will pursue every legal and democratic avenue to overturn this unjust rule that unfairly targets Indian traders and consumers,' the former Bagan Dalam elected representative said in a statement. Last Friday, FMT reported that local government enforcement officers drew flak after a video showing them taking action against stallholders at a trade fair in Bukit Mertajam went viral. In a now-deleted TikTok video shared by the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), enforcement officers were seen issuing compound notices to traders selling sarees and other Indian-themed goods. The officers were also heard describing the event, held earlier this month, as illegal, while traders were told that they were in violation of two rules – they were not Penang residents, and they were selling 'Indian-themed items' outside the allowed period. The council's actions were, however, in line with a state policy, currently implemented by the two city councils, that restricts Indian trade or sales fairs organised by non-Penang traders in a bid to protect local businesses. Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow has since defended the policy, saying it was introduced more than five years ago after the Penang Indian Chamber of Commerce raised concerns that traders from outside the state were affecting the incomes of local businesses. He said traders from outside Penang were not banned, but allowed to organise Indian-related sales fairs between April and June. MBSP also maintained that the policy was not racially motivated and that cultural trade fairs were still permitted outside of the restricted period, subject to guidelines. However, Satees today said that the broader ban was hurting both traders and consumers by reducing competition and limiting access to culturally significant and affordable goods. 'This is an anti-consumer rule. It restricts choice and inflates prices. Satees asked the state to reveal how many actual traders had complained and accused the state of kowtowing to a small group of textile businesses. He also called on the federal government, particularly law and institutional reforms minister Azalina Othman Said, to advise Penang to review the policy in line with constitutional principles.
Free Malaysia Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Joining united front not the same as signing up with PN, says Ramasamy
Urimai chairman P Ramasamy said his party supports Bersatu's call for a united opposition but has no intention of becoming part of PN. PETALING JAYA : Joining a united opposition front comprising various parties outside the ruling bloc is not the same as entering a formal coalition like Perikatan Nasional (PN), Urimai chairman P Ramasamy said following the views of two political analysts on the matter. Ramasamy said it was misleading to suggest that political parties like Muda or Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) avoid the initiative solely due to the perception that it is an extension of PN. In a statement, he said such a view 'conflates two very different political realities'. He gave the example of his party, which he said supports Bersatu's call for a united opposition but has no intention of becoming part of PN. 'There is a fundamental misunderstanding in equating participation in the united front with formal membership in Bersatu, PAS, or the PN coalition. 'This distinction is critical. Supporting a broader political platform to challenge the government does not imply ideological alignment with all parties involved.' Earlier today, two political analysts told FMT that Muda risked eroding its modest support base by aligning with Bersatu on its proposed united opposition front. Universiti Sains Malaysia's Azmil Tayeb said joining the pact would tarnish Muda's image as a moderate party, while Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said the party could lose its core supporters. Bersatu agreed last week that its president Muhyiddin Yassin would spearhead efforts to build a united opposition front in preparation for the 16th general election. Subsequently, on July 18, the former prime minister met with the heads of various parties opposed to the government, including Muda, PSM, Pejuang, Putra, the Malaysian Advancement Party, and Urimai. Ramasamy said equating the united opposition front with a formal coalition 'oversimplified' the political landscape and unfairly discredited efforts to build a more inclusive opposition. 'Analysts and detractors alike would do well to acknowledge this complexity rather than indulge in lazy political shorthand,' he added.
Malaysiakini
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Ramasamy quotes Shakespeare amid horoscopic 'Turun Anwar' warning
Amid a horoscope warning urging Indians not to turn up for the 'Turun Anwar' rally slated on July 26, Urimai chairperson P Ramasamy quotes William Shakespeare to remind the community of the power of determining one's own fate. 'To invoke some Hindu mythological mumbo jumbo to prevent the participation of Indians in the July 26 rally for Anwar to step down is a mischievous thing to do.
