MIC urges Mahathir to stop fanning anti-Tamil sentiments

June 21st, 2008 - 4:04 pm ICT by ANI - Email This Post

Kota Baru (Malaysia), June 21 (ANI): Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu has urged former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to act as a statesman for all races instead of calling others racist.
Responding to a blog by Dr Mahathir in which he called the MIC president a racist for sympathising with Hindraf leaders, Vellu said that Dr Mahathir was a leader of all races; therefore he should work with all towards promoting national unity.
Asked if he would meet Dr Mahathir to clear the air, he said that he was a small and common man and Mahathir was the boss.
Opening the 91st annual general meeting of the Kelantan MIC here, he said despite the perceived dispute with Dr Mahathir, he preferred to stay away from mudslinging, the Star reported.
Samy Vellu said that he was hurt during the last general elections when Dr Mahathir said that he had not done anything for the community and wanted the Sungai Siput voters to reject him.
MIC deputy president G. Palanivel requested Dr Mahathir not to make statements that would further fan racial sentiments and hatred among the people.
He said Dr Mahathir should be honest in his opinions and said that his recent statement on Hindraf, describing them as Tamil racists would only further drive away Indian voters from the Barisan Nasional to Pakatan Rakyat.
It was sad that the former PM was not aware of the fact that Hindraf included many non-Tamil and even non-Hindu Indians. He was wrong to say that Hindraf leaders represented Tamil racists, he added. (ANI)

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/mic-urges-mahathir-to-stop-fanning-anti-tamil-sentiments_10062749.html