Another example of Indian marginalisation

Last year, Umno Youth’s number 2 Khairy J publicly insulted and humiliated Penang CM and the then Gerakan No 2 (now party acting president) Koh Tsu Koon by accusing the Penang Gerakan state government of “marginalising” the Malays in Penang.

No action was taken against KJ. Gerakan did not even ask for an explanation from the top Umno leadership over the breach of BN discipline. KJ was left of the hook. No one spoke about suspending him from Umno at all.

On Friday, Gerakan Youth chairperson S Paranjothy released a four-para statement listing down the various times Umno had played the racial cards and how the Indian community here has been “marginalized, oppressed and ignored”.

In fact, Paranjothy had dared to speak publicly what others only muttered privately.

And then came the rumbling noises - first Gerakan tried to do some damage control by disassociating itself from Paranjothy’s hard-hitting remarks, and then Umno joined in the fray, accusing Gerakan of breaching BN spirit and discipline and even suggesting that BN should severe ties with the party and finally the Gerakan leadership openly rebuked Paranjothy and contemplated suspending or even sacking him.

Why? All for telling the truth.

As mentioned above, KJ spoke about Malay marginalisation in Penang and got away with it. Paranjothy spoke about Indian marginalisation and would most probably have to end his political career.

Like Kit Siang quoted, it is a case of George Orwell’s Animal Farm dictum, that “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”.