Vell Paari stands by resolve, Palanivel seeks Cabinet’s wisdom

ARCHIVES 2013

By admin-s On Feb 27, 2013

For years we have been saying, ‘do something, do something, do something’. This is not good. But the way it is going, it is like we are asking the Malays and the non-Malays to fight…. one with keris; the other, with parang.

Clara Chooi, The Malaysian Insider

MIC’s S. Vell Paari is sticking to his resolve to push the party to campaign independently of Barisan Nasional (BN) in Election 2013 should the ruling coalition refuse to censure “bigots” for spewing racist drivel against the country’s non-Malay communities.

But the MIC strategy director told The Malaysian Insider that this would depend on the outcome of today’s Cabinet meeting, where he said party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel has agreed to raise his grouses.

“I have spoken to the president and what he told me was that he will raise it in Cabinet,” Vell Paari said when contacted here yesterday.

The son of MIC’s longest serving president, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, sent shockwaves through the party last week when he penned a scathing open letter to Palanivel, demanding the latter pressure Cabinet into taking action against Muslim academic Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah and Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

Casting most of the spotlight on Tee, Vell Paari complained that the academic’s recent remarks in the media should be regarded as a serious affront to the Hindu community, who make up the majority of Indians here.

“My party president said he is also concerned with the issue and he will raise it in Cabinet. I will wait for Cabinet’s decision,” he said.

Palanivel has agreed to bring the matter before the Cabinet.But should there be no response from Cabinet or his party leadership, Vell Paari repeated his threat to urge Indians here to vote for the opposition.

“In the CWC (central working committee), I am going to put forward what I think MIC should do. If they agree with me, fine.

“But if they disagree, then I have to take on this agenda on my own. It is not about joining the opposition, though… I will never join the opposition because it would mean I am not genuine,” he said.

Vell Paari pointed out that he could create his own platform to ensure his objectives are fulfilled ― political or otherwise.

He also acknowledged that he was taking a huge risk with his remarks, but said he was ready to leave the MIC or be sacked.

“You see, before this, no one said anything. When I threatened to ask the Indians to vote the opposition, suddenly everyone is jumping.

“I do this because it is necessary… otherwise, no one ever listens,” he said.

Vell Paari said individuals like Tee and Ibrahim were clearly working against BN and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1 Malaysia philosophy.

But with no reprimand, the duo could very well wage civil war in the country, he said, particularly if they are always allowed to run riot with their remarks on racial matters.

“In politics, we cannot be silent. Silence is not golden in politics. If we want to stay silent, we might as well become librarians, not politicians,” he said.

Vell Paari also defended his chosen method of raising his grouses, saying it was not only an effective manner to resolve issues but also the preferred choice of the Indian community who are now seeking transparency.

He pointed out that he had not attacked Palanivel in the letter and had only followed protocol, adding that the president had given him freedom to speak and act when he was appointed strategy director.

Vell Paari reminded that Malaysia is multiracial, adding that if communities were not respected as equals, those who could afford it may migrate elsewhere.

“But what about those who can’t afford to leave?

“For years we have been saying, ‘do something, do something, do something’. This is not good. But the way it is going, it is like we are asking the Malays and the non-Malays to fight…. one with keris; the other, with parang.

“We all live here as equals… but if this persists, I don’t know if I am going to heaven or to hell but I definitely know that I am going from Malaysia,” he said.