In a scathing letter to G Palanivel, MIC leader
S Vell Paari tells his president to push for action to be taken against
Ridhuan Tee Abdullah and Ibrahim Ali, failing which, he will ask the
Indians to vote for the opposition.
KUALA
LUMPUR: Still nursing the near fatal wounds sustained in the last
general election, MIC is limping towards the frontline once again. And
while its supporters remain optimistic, its detractors however believe
that it would not survive the looming battle.
Amidst this uncertain future comes a scathing open letter from an
outspoken MIC leader to his president, which could plunge the Barisan
Nasional component into a crisis just ahead of the polls.
Aware of the risks and repercussions involved, S Vell Paari told FMT
that he felt compelled to ink his thoughts since the issue transcended
partisan politics.
“It might be the wrong thing to do as a BN politician but I believe
it is the right thing to do as a Malaysian who is fed up with those
attempting to rip this nation apart,” he said.
In his letter, the MIC strategy director urged G Palanivel to push
for stern action to be taken against academic Ridhuan Tee Abdullah for
penning an article which disparaged those who professed the Hindu faith
as well as Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali.
Failing which, Vell Paari warned that he would put into motion a
proposal to call on Indians not to cast their ballots for the ruling
coalition in the coming polls.
“If no action is taken against Ridhuan and Ibrahim, I would push
forward my proposal in advising the Indians who to vote for. I would use
the MIC platform to go forward with my proposal.
“The only way for you [Palanivel] to stop me is to sack me. The ball
is in your court,” read the letter, which was copied to FMT.
Vell Paari said that Palanivel should raise this matter during next
week’s Cabinet meeting and press Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to
make a stand.
The MIC leader also clarified that he was asking the president to take the lead based on protocol.
“As a MIC member, where we represent Indians of all faiths and a
member of a race called Malaysian, I cannot remain quiet on this sort of
issues any longer, which tend to crop up with increasing frequency. The
community wants to know what is our response.
“We berate Pakatan Rakyat for breaking temples but keep quiet on
these insults. If the reverse had happened [a Hindu insulting Islam],
all hell would have broken loose,” he said.
“With regard to the controversy regarding the use of the word Allah,
it went to the extent where a certain imbecile called for Bibles to be
burnt. Why must is it always be a one-way street when it comes to our
[non-Muslim] sensitivity?” he added.
‘We are not children of a lesser God’
Vell Paari said that when he criticised Ridhuan, he had to recharge
his mobile phone several times as he was flooded with calls in support
of his stand both from within and outside MIC.
“If we continue to remain silent on such issues because we are afraid
of antagonising certain powers- that-be, then we might as well close
shop and convert the MIC headquarters into a banana leaf restaurant. We
cannot hold our heads high, when our tails are between our legs,” he
added.
Vell Paari pointed out that Ridhuan, who was an associate professor
with the National Defence University, also held other government-related
positions.
“He is a committee member of the Islamic Consultative Council in the
Prime Minister’s Department, a national council member of the Muslim
Welfare Organisation (Perkim) and executive facilitator at the civil
service integrity enhancement unit in the Islamic Development
Department.
“He sits in these positions including the Prime Minister’s Department
and hits out at MIC, a member of the government that he is employed by.
This is a clear case of insubordination and defiance of Prime Minister
Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept,” he said.
“If Ibrahim calls for the torching of Bibles to protect his faith,
then what should our reaction be towards someone who had insulted our
faith and the Thaipusam festival?
“Who are Ridhuan and Ibrahim to talk about non-Muslims and our
religions? In what way are we children of a lesser God? We too have
every right to stand up and protect the God we pray to. This country is
our home as much as it is theirs. They should be charged with sedition,”
he stressed.
Real equality in BN needed
Vell Paari said the time had come for BN component parties to be on equal footing with Umno instead of being subservient to the big brother.
Vell Paari said the time had come for BN component parties to be on equal footing with Umno instead of being subservient to the big brother.
“Let’s have some pride and respect. It’s better to quit with dignity
then to live in shame in BN for the sake of having a few appointments in
government.
“Are MIC and her members in BN just to hold flags, to wear free BN
t-shirts, fill up seats at events and to play postman to deliver cheques
issued by the Prime Minister’s Office?” he asked.
Vell Paari noted that for the first time, there was a prime minister
who was willing to engage the Indian community and make a difference.
“We should educate this prime minister on the needs of the community
and not the other way around – for him to say what he thinks this
community needs,” he added.
The MIC leader cited several examples which the party could propose
such as to raise the Indian equity target to 10%, looking into upgrading
the computer facilities and quality of teachers in Tamil schools as
well as to eradicate criminal elements in the Indian community and
improving the standard of the police force, which suffered from a
perception crisis.
He also invited Najib to visit the MIC headquarters and hold
heart-to-heart discussions with the CWC members and division chairmen.
Returning to the Ridhuan issue, Vell Paari told Palanivel that as the
party’s strategy director, it was his strategic advise that the
president take the bull by its horns.
“You have direct access to the prime minister, so you have to bring
this matter to the attention of the prime minister for immediate action.
“While I must commend the prime minister for signing the election
integrity pledge, we must also call on him to take a proactive and bold
stand on this matter.
“Ridhuan must be removed from all his government-related
appointments. We should not ask for him to be terminated from his
employment because we should not punish his family for his mistake. But
let’s not be contented with a simple apology,” he said.
Vell Paari, who insisted that he would not join the opposition should
he decide to throw in the towel, would also sent copies of the letter
to the CWC members.
It is learnt that the MIC leader had received gentle reprimands from
the BN leadership to tone down but when quizzed on this, he refused to
disclose the details. However, he vowed not to cave in to pressure.
“If MIC is considered an equal partner in BN, then action against the
likes of Ridhuan would be taken without me having to resort to such
measures,” he said.
Asked if he was advocating for MIC to withdraw from the coalition, Vell Paari declined to comment.
With Malay votes divided between PKR, PAS and Umno, Indian votes were
crucial to the ruling coalition, especially since Chinese voters had
turned their backs on BN.
In the aftermath of the Hindraf protest, Indian voters, who till then
were considered to be true blue supporters of BN, had swung their
support in favour of the opposition during the 2008 polls.
MIC and MCA continue to find themselves in a political conundrum as
several quarters remain adamant on exploiting sensitive issues despite
the prime minister’s 1Malaysia call.
Palanivel agrees to act
Meanwhile, Vell Paari informed FMT later that Palanivel had agreed to raise the matter with Najib during the Cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, Vell Paari informed FMT later that Palanivel had agreed to raise the matter with Najib during the Cabinet meeting.
“I am hoping that the prime minister would initiate action. I would
not be satisfied with a mere ‘we are looking into the matter’ response.
This has gone too far,” he said.
Vell Paari also clarified that he was not undermining Palanivel nor
was he interested in becoming president of MIC or to be given political
positions.
“There are no hidden agendas or what not here. I am raising this
issue because I am fed up with idiots running around trying to turn
Malaysia into a racial and religious war zone.
“I am a father. I want my daughter to grow up in a peaceful country without bigotry,” he added.
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