An aide of MIC president S Samy Vellu today rubbished a news portal's report that the party and its veteran leader are being shunned by Umno leaders in the ongoing campaign for the Bagan Pinang by-election.

Although the article did not feature a byline, the aide said "the story is just the imagination of the reporter who has an axe to grind with Samy Vellu."

samy vellu_muhyiddin_baganpinang_07102009 He added that during a 'meet the people' session in Siliau estate at 5.30pm, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Umno deputy president, mentioned the MIC president's name several times.

"He even asked Samy Vellu to sit beside him on stage, but Samy Vellu declined and asked (MIC vice-president) Dr S Subramaniam to sit as he is the cabinet minister.

"Press photographers also snapped photos of DPM (Muhyiddin) and Samy Vellu shaking hands.

"Even Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hassan mentioned his (Samy Vellu’s) name and there was applause from the floor," he said.

'Refusing to take photos'

The news portal’s report which among others talked about Barisan Nasional’s attempt to lure in Indian votes stated that Umno leaders have been bypassing MIC, "whose president is seen as a major liability."

"Samy Vellu has become a highly unpopular figure with the Indian community and has come under intense pressure to quit.

"In the ongoing Bagan Pinang campaign, Umno leaders have even made it a point not to be photographed with Samy Vellu," it read.

bagan pinang by-election 071009 samy vellu visit 02 While some reports from the ground suggest that the MIC president is being given the cold shoulder by the local Indian population, Samy Vellu however claimed that the party’s election machinery has made significant inroads.

Indians make up some 20 percent of the electorate in Bagan Pinang.

The Oct 11 by-election for the state seat will see a straight fight between former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Isa Samad and state PAS commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar.

The seat fell vacant following the death of its BN incumbent Azman Mohammad Noor.

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