KUALA LUMPUR Feb 19 — Khairy Jamaluddin’s defence of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s alleged failures to the Indian community was “irrational”, “immature and imprudent”, Hindraf leader P. Waytha Moorthy said today.

The former deputy minister told Khairy to first read the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Indian community issues that the prime minister had signed last year before defending his boss.

“Khairy’s irrational defence of his boss is immature and imprudent,” Waytha Moorthy wrote in a press statement here.

“Would he be able to perform if his ministry’s budget is taken away and he is expected to function as the Youth and sports Minister?” he asked, in a question to Khairy.

Waytha Moorthy also demanded that Najib come out in the open to admit to his alleged failure to fulfil demands he had agreed to in the MoU, instead of allowing “errand boy” Khairy to shield him.

“The entire Cabinet should be embarrassed that their boss reneged on his promises to the Indian community,” the Hindu rights leader charged.

Khairy had taken to Twitter yesterday to rubbish Waytha Moorthy’s criticisms against Najib, saying the Indian rights activist had quit his senatorship and deputy minister’s post after failing to obtain sole control of government funds for the Indian community.

In a series of tweets, the youth and sports minister alleged that Waytha Moorthy had given up his deputy minister post on February 10 when he did not succeed in “bypassing” other ministries in handling the fund.

“Fact is, Waythamoorthy demanded all govt budget for Indian community be parked under his discretion. That’s not how govt operates.

“Waythamoorthy wanted to control the money, bypassing ministries & agencies. When he didn’t get this, he quit & blamed PM @NajibRazak,” Khairy wrote this afternoon using his Twitter handle @Khairykj.

Disagreeing, Waytha Moorthy insisted today that it was Najib who had agreed to forming a special government unit within the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) to be headed by a director-general and four assistants to oversee issues affecting the Indian community.

This unit, the leader claimed, was to be given a special budget with autonomy to enable it to carry out its tasks in a more focussed manner.

But after eight months of persuasion, Waytha Moorthy alleged that the promised budget allocation never became a reality.

“It became very clear to me there was no political will on his part,” said the leader, who had yesterday demanded that Najib resign.