Tamil dailies claim 'Samy said it' 
Malaysiakini – 18/5/2006

Tamil dailies Makkal Osai and Malaysia Nanban are unfazed by MIC president S Samy Vellu’s threat to sue them for alleged false reporting. 

The dailies said they have proof that the veteran politician had made the disputed remarks about former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

Yesterday, both newspapers reported that Samy told delegates at a convention in Johor on Tuesday that Mahathir did not give the Indian community anything. 

He was quoted as saying that the former premier promised ‘this and that’ under the Eighth Malaysia Plan (8MP) but later said 'Nehi' ('No' in Hindi) and left without giving anything. 

However, newspapers today quoted the veteran politician as claiming that the reports were false and the dailies had purposely distorted his remarks to create unnecessary friction between him and Mahathir. 

He explained that during the convention, a delegate had raised the issue of the three percent equity for Indians in the country and he had mentioned that it was Mahathir who initiated the target which could not be reached under the 8MP. 

Samy Vellu, who is also works minister, said he had instructed his lawyer to initiate legal proceedings against the two dailies. 

‘We have it on tape’ Contacted today, both Makkal Osai and Malaysia Nanban stood by their reports. 

“Our JB reporter has confirmed that the MIC president said this (the disputed remarks) in his opening speech (at the convention) and we have it on tape,” said Makkal Osai general manager SM Periasamy. He said the newspaper was willing to face Samy Vellu in court if the matter came to that. 
Meanwhile, Malaysia Nanban chief editor M Rajan said the daily also had a recording of the speech. 

“Our reporter was there (at the convention). We reported what he (Samy Vellu) said. We have no intentions of creating any friction between him and Mahathir. 

“As far as we are concerned, we did nothing wrong. We are ready to face legal action,” he added.
Source: www.malaysiakini.com