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| Samy: I was just following PM's example KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu's invitation to IPF members to join his party was inspired by Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad's move to forge Malay unity. "I followed my leader who had shown interest in forging Malay unity through discussions with PAS. It was a genuine invitation. "But when I offered my hand in friendship, IPF kicked us,'' he told reporters here yesterday. The Works Minister was commenting on IPF president M. G. Pandithan's statement that the MIC invite for its members to dissolve the party and join them was not sincere. He said the overwhelming vote by the IPF delegates on Sunday was not necessary, adding that the party should have replied that they were not interested. He said that the Indian community was not disunited but only certain individuals could not see eye to eye and wanted to make their presence felt in politics. "These politicians talk a mouthful but don't serve the grassroots. I meet more than 200 people daily. That is work but others take the credit,'' he said. Samy Vellu said MIC had been in existence for more than 50 years and had more than 580,000 members who solidly backed Barisan. "We can bring 25,000 members for a meeting but we don't want to cause hardship to the people. We put the interests of Barisan and Dr Mahathir's leadership above party interest,'' he said. Samy Vellu said that he had been in politics for 42 years and knew what a person was going to say even before he opened his mouth. "We are not standing on weak soil. We are standing on hard soil. We are ready for a tug-of-war anytime. I am not afraid of opposition hooliganism,'' he added. |
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| IPF CHAPTER CLOSED, SAYS SAMY VELLU KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today he does not want to talk about the Indian Progressive Front (IPF) anymore after it rejected the MIC's offer to its members to join the party. Asked to comment on IPF president Datuk M.G. Pandithan's invitation to him yesterday for "unity talks" between the two Indian-based parties, he said: " I have made my stand clear that I will no longer comment on the IPF". "I will not talk about them. Now I have to concentrate on my work. Once bitten twice shy," he told reporters after receiving donations worth RM222,500 for the Gujarat Earthquake Fund at his office, here. -- BERNAMA |
| Aliran Media Statement http://www.malaysia.net/aliran/ Samy Incriminated by his own Empty Promises The response by MIC President S. Samy Vellu (NST and The Star, 21 February 2001) to the latest issue of Aliran Monthly is to say the least typical and predictable. The critique on his 20-year leadership in our cover story is in fact based largely on Samy's very own quotes published in local newspapers. Samy has described the Aliran issue as containing several articles "hurling unsubstantiated accusations against the MIC". If only the MIC President were to take a closer look at the article it would become very evident to him that Aliran's conclusion - that he and the MIC have failed to respond effectively to the needs of Indian Malaysians, especially plantation workers - was based on statements related to housing, healthcare, education, finance and social well-being that were made by the MIC and the president himself. Is he now saying that these MIC statements are in fact "unsubstantiated accusations against the MIC"? In a sense, Samy Vellu was right when he, by way of inference, said that Aliran Monthly was "one-sided." The latest cover story highlights mainly his side of the story, quoting comments and promises he had previously made (newspaper references provided) and the empty outcomes. In other words, his statements from the past now incriminate him! "These articles were written by a man who does not know what is happening in the country," Samy has remarked. Surely Samy doesn't know what he is talking about. The articles in our latest issue focussing on the plight of Indian Malaysians were written by different writers and not just by one writer. If Samy is referring to the cover story, the quotes in it came largely from Samy. Is he suggesting that the 'man who does not know what is happening in the country' is Samy himself? So, if at all there is a "smear campaign" against the MIC President, as he has alleged, it would be a case of Samy pointing a finger at himself. Aliran Monthly Editorial Board 22 February 2001 |
| From: DAP MALAYSIA <dap.malaysia@p...> Date: Wed Apr 4, 2001 3:34pm Subject: [BUNGARAYA] samy vellu, stop playing fire with the Taman Medan Tragedy ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Media statement by Ronnie Liu, DAP National Publicity Secretary in Petaling Jaya on Wednesday, 04 April 2001 Samy Vellu should stop playing fire with the Taman Medan Tragedy Last week, a few Barisan Alternatif leaders and I lodged a police report against MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for making remarks inciting racial hatred. These totally irresponsible and racially inflammatory remarks were reported in the Sunday Star dated 25th March 2001 at page 6 in a report by one Clarence Chua. The statements reported to be made by Samy Vellu include the following:- "He claimed that one reason why Indians were attacked was because they were staunch Barisan Nasional Supporters. (He) said if it was just a fight between two neighbours, such violent attacks would not have happened." "Referring to the Lunas by-election, he said Indians encountered the same problems, adding that buses were smashed." Samy Vellu knows that DAP and other Barisan Alternatif leaders have been visiting communities in Taman Medan, calling for calm, and creating dialogue between different communities since the first clashes. Samy Vellu should also know that the DAP has called for the setting up of an all parties goodwill committee to help resolve the violence. The DAP and other Barisan Alternatif component parties have repeatedly called for an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Taman Medan violence. If the Barisan Alternatif were the Black Hand behind the scene, it would be stupid and unthinkable for the Barisan Alternatif to call for such inquiry. Samy Vellu should immediately withdraw these false statements and apologise to the Barisan Alternatif and the public for making wild, irresponsible and racially inflammatory remarks. Samy Vellu's remarks could result in serious consequences if someone actually believes his accusation. DAP and BA will hold Samy Vellu responsible if any untoward incidents happen to DAP and other BA supporters and leaders. The Barisan Alternatif members of Parliament put forward a motion when Parliament convened last week to debate this issue as one of national importance and urgency. The motion was unfortunately rejected by the Speaker on the ground that one hour is not sufficient for a debate on such matter. The Selangor State Assembly Speaker without justification also rejected similar motion tabled by BA Assemblymen. Selangor DAP will be meeting the Selangor police this Friday. We will put forward our suggestions on behalf of the people and call for greater accountability with regard to the Taman Medan tragedy and the continuing cases of attacks that are reported. We hope the Selangor police will provide a full and public explanation of the state of their investigations. We would also discuss the issue of barring all ceramahs and gatherings in the state with the Selangor Police. / Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew |