Anti-Samy demonstration cancelled
Malaysiakini.com
Jun 22, 2008
S Pathmawathy

A protest rally intended to demand the resignation of MIC president S Samy Vellu was called off despite the presence of several discontented people gathered at the party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
MCPX

The planned rally, organised in an effort to depose the MIC chief from the position which he has held for almost 29 years, was cancelled for reasons unknown.

However, it was learnt that the group shifted their frustration towards another protest against the fuel price hike held in Klang.

samy vellu interview 160408 01Nevertheless, a bunch of hopeful activists turned up to express their frustration towards Samy Vellu who hitherto has denied to step down from his post even after losing his Sungai Siput parliamentary seat which he had held since 1974 to PKR candidate Dr D Jeyakumar who took in the innings after the 12th general elections.

According to a statement faxed prior to the event by a group calling itself Makkal Sakthi, the rally was planned "to send a clear and loud message to Samy Vellu that the Indian community is no longer in support of his leadership.

"...And to all branch leaders that MIC will become irrelevant if they do not reflect and express the real sentiments of the Indian people."

Among other grievances that were stated in the statement were the lack of educational opportunities and employment disadvantages within the minority.

mic office protest 230607 apparao ramadumalaApparao Ramadumala (right), 50, a party loyalist of more than 30 years, was one of the afew who had gathered for the rally. He expressed utmost regret and disappointment towards Samy Vellu's leadership.

"This is not a personal grudge against him (Samy Vellu) but it is high-time for him to give up his position to someone else more capable because the Indian community is not prospering under his guidance," said Apparao.

‘He hasn't done anything'

"We trusted him so much back in those days... we were happy with whatever we received because back then, we believed that our leader will take care of our needs," he expressed.

"For so many years he has done hardly anything to benefit the Indian community. But the younger generation will not sit back and take it any more... they will question like they did during the Hindraf mass rally," he added.

The rally was spurred by the lackadaisical attitude of the government towards the Indians minorities.

More than 30,000 people from all over the country gathered in Kuala Lumpur Nov 25, 2007 to express their dissatisfaction and to demand for equal rights.

Apparao added that he believed with a leadership change, MIC would thrive for the better and would be able to alleviate the grouses of the Indian community.

mic office protest 230607 02Although the demonstration was cancelled, more than 30 police personnel and several truck loads of riot police were present at the scene to keep a lookout.

MIC central working committee (CWC) member S Murugesan, KL Youth leader G Padman and several other MIC supporters were also at the headquarters after hearing about the rumoured protest.

Samy Vellu is believed to be in South India for a private visit.

Copyright © 1999-2007 Mkini Dotcom Sdn. Bhd.
Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84856