MCO Trunners’ backing storm

Councillor praise spurs unrest

A HOBART City Councillor’ s endorsement of candidates for positions on the board of the Multicultural Council of Tasmania has raised concerns some members may feel intimidated.

Councillor Mike Dutta posted his support on Facebook for several candidates ahead of the MCOT board election son Wednesday.

Mr Dutta described the election as “a defining moment for the history of M CO T” in the Saturday afternoon social media post.

“I am delighted to give you all my tacit support ,” he said.

“You, as a team, will bring excellent credentials to serve on MCOT board.”

Mr Dutta “endorsed and authorised” an attached poster in support of John Kamara for chair, Raj Chopra for vicechair, Charles Makoundi for secretary, and Ajit Ramadas, C. K. B ha ra thy, Yongbei Tang and Dr Syed Ashraf for board member roles.

“I strongly recommend this team for your serious consideration ,” Mr Dutt as aid.

M CO T member Dattaraj SMahambrey commented on the post, questioning whether a politician should show “such syndicated support to a select group of individuals ”.

“Why is there no support for other candidates from other communities?,” he asked. “Is there an ulterior motive that we as members [should] be worried about ?”

Mr Mahambrey asked whether other candidates should “even bother to contest a fair election”.

MCOT chair Waqas Durrani said it was important for the organisation to remain apolitical.

He feared the post was having an adverse effect on some of the M CO T members representing more than 177 countries, including migrants and refugees who had fled oppressive political and religious regimes.

“Some members may feel

intimidated, some members may feel they don’ t want to be associated with any politically affiliated organisation,” he said.

“It’s highly important for the work that M CO T does for it to be apolitical and for the governance to be independent of any political influence.

“We expect it to be a healthy and positive election

where members feel they can fairly participate.”

Mr Dutt as aid he was commenting not as a member of the Hobart City Council but as a MCOT member.

“This has nothing to do with Hobart City Council or my role within that position .”

Mr Dutta’s post tagged 26 accounts including former MCOT chief executive and

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and former Labor Senator Lisa Singh.

It is the latest controversy to hit MCOT.

In March 2019 the CEO Suzanne Mallick was sacked within months of being hired, following months of turmoil that included the resignation of two board members and two of five M CO T employees.

WE EXPECT IT TO BE A HEALTHY AND POSITIVE ELECTION WHERE MEMBERS FEEL THEY CAN FAIRLY PARTICIPATE MCOT CHAIR WAQAS DURANI