Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tore into the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) yesterday, saying that it is spreading blatant lies with the intention of arousing hatred among multiracial Malaysians and sparking racial clashes.Singling out Hindraf’s accusation that the Government was carrying out ethnic cleansing of the Indians in Malaysia, the Prime Minister fumed: “I'm really angry, I rarely get angry but this blatant lie cannot be tolerated at all.”
Abdullah even offered to resign if there was proof that the Government was involved in ethnic cleansing.
He said he did not want the people, especially the Indians, to be misled by Hindraf's unfounded claims and allegations, hoping that other races would not show sympathy towards the Indian activist group.
However, despite his anger during the 20-minute press conference where he dealt mostly with the Hindraf issue, Abdullah pledged to look after the interests and the well-being of the Indian community.
“The social problems faced by the Indian community are clear. I have never said no. We support the Indians but there are some quarters instigating them and making them feel unhappy with the Government,” he said.
