I DON’T think it is proper for Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy to criticise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the manner that he showed up at the Batu Caves temple four days prior to the Thaipusam celebration rather than on the actual day.
I would like to insist that the discontent of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council chairman with the manner that Anwar paid his respect to the Thaipusam celebration is his own personal view; it doesn’t reflect the views of Malaysian Indians in general.
Ramasamy is an Indian. Anwar is a Malay. Thaipusam is an Indian celebration.
Considering that, Ramasamy should have acted like a good host by honouring Anwar as a guest at our function in tune with the way that a host is expected to honour their guest according to Indian culture.
When you invite a guest to your celebration and they come to your celebration upon your invitation, you should be gracious, and not complain about the way they came, especially when they have done nothing to cause any offence.
That Ramasamy was complaining about Anwar’s dress, entourage and duration of visit as well as comparing Anwar’s visit unfavourably to former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s visit previously – is frankly speaking – in transgression to the rules of hospitality or the proper way of felicitating one’s guest according to the Indian culture.
Politicising Thaipusam
If Najib chose to come wearing a dhoti on the day of Thaipusam and stayed for a longer duration while Anwar chose to come wearing a Malay outfit a few days before Thaipusam while staying for 30 minutes, that is their respective choices.
It is not offensive to us, so why take a grievance against it.
It is also very improper for Ramasamy to criticise Anwar for coming with Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo by speaking condescendingly about Gobind’s visit by stating that his presence contributed little to the occasion.
The National DAP deputy chairman is also a guest. Why sour his visit unnecessarily?
Our culture doesn’t teach us to place demands on those who visit us. As a matter of fact, our culture actually teaches us to honour and felicitate our guests even if they came with an empty hand, visited us at an inopportune time or commit an unforced error during their visit.
Thaipusam is not about politics.
Whatever grievances that Ramasamy has on Anwar in the political sphere, he should not use Thaipusam to carry out his politics by other means.
Rather, as an Indian leader and elder, he should have set a better example to the next generation by expressing his appreciation to Anwar for felicitating our celebration without judging the way that Anwar chose to felicitate our celebration.
If Ramasamy truly couldn’t bring himself to say anything gracious about Anwar’s visit, he should have at least opted for silence rather than make a guest of ours regret for turning up to felicitate our function. – Feb 12, 2025
Nehru Sathiamoorthy is a roving tutor who loves politics, philosophy and psychology.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
