Outspoken councillor A Thiruvenggadam has been dropped from the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council line-up and according to him, it was because he had been a thorn in the side of the PKR-led state government.

“It was because I had repeatedly questioned why there were no equal distribution policies... they have been unfair to the Indian community,” said Thiruvenggdam.

“I am not being racist - a government that is unfair to one community is actually unfair to all,” he said.

The Selangor state executive council meeting had announced last week that 20 percent of the 288 councillors who have served since last year have been dropped.

Thiruvenggdam ( left ) had unearthed certain dubious dealings involving contracts issued by solid waste management company Alam Flora Sdn Bhd.

He claimed that the Selangor government divides Alam Flora's waste management contracts among the ruling political parties - 40 percent to PKR, 30 percent to PAS and 30 percent to DAP.

According to Thiruvenggdam, such practices denied fair participation from other contractors and deprived the Indian community of opportunities.

Following the allegations, the Selangor government launched a probe on the awards of the contracts and promised to set up an audit committee to ensure that such contracts are awarded to “genuine operators” and not party-linked brokers.

“Till today Dr Xavier Jayakumar, or any other state executive councillors for the matter, have not answered my allegations that the government has been unfair especially in terms of jobs and contracts.

“When I made the allegations, the menteri besar said that an audit would be set up, but there had been no news ever since.

Not disappointed but sad

Although Thiruvenggadam said that he was not disappointed by the dismissal, he was nevertheless sad as “the post was a tool to serve the people”.

Asked on the reason why that Thiruvenggadam was not re-appointed, state local government committee chairman Ronnie Liu - who is from DAP - responded curtly, “I cannot interfere with matters concerning PKR as Thiruvenggadam was chosen by his party”.

Last month, Thiruvenggadam received an ultimatum from PKR to substantiate his allegations on the Alam Flora contracts.

In a show-cause letter from PKR's Petaling Jaya Selatan division, where Thiruvenggadam is a vice-chief, he was given seven days to provide proof of his allegations.

However, Thiruvenggadam had not complied with the party's request.

“PKR claims to be party where its members can have different views and opinions on issues... so why issue a show-cause letter to me?” said Thiruvenggdam.