Manikavasagam issued stern warning over outburst

PETALING JAYA: PKR has issued a stern warning to Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam for criticising Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and state exco member Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

An official said the party’s political bureau, headed by its president Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, issued the warning on Wednesday following a report from its disciplinary committee.

He said several leaders, including Dr Xavier, had pressed for Manikavasagam’s suspension, but were over-ruled by party adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Disciplinary committee head Datuk Dr Tan Tee Kwong confirmed that a decision had been made but refused to give further details, saying these would only be made public after Manikavasagam had been informed.

Manikavasagam was issued a show-cause letter after two video clips in mid-December showed him urging Khalid to resign over the demolition of an altar in Taman Seroja in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi in November.

In another clip, Manikavasagam blamed Dr Xavier for the demolition oftemplesin Selangor over the last four years. He replied to the show-cause letter on Tuesday.

Earlier, two PKR members, N. Shanmugam of Batu division and K. Samynathan of Kelana Jaya, said Manikavasagam criticised the two leaders as they had failed to resolve problems involving temple demolitions in the state.

“He (Manikavasagam) had promised that the Pakatan Rakyat government will not demolish any temple if it comes to power,” Shanmugam said.

“But seven temples have been demolished so far and more notices for demolitions have been received by other temples,” Samynathan added.