MIC vice-president M Saravanan has dismissed that his gun-flashing antics at the MIC headquarters was meant to threaten people.

Saravanan - who is also the deputy youth and sports minister - said had he wanted to threaten others, people would be looking at the whole gun.

"I keep it for my protection, which is why people only caught a glimpse of it and not the whole gun. They just saw a little.

"The gun was given to me for my protection, I must carry it with me but I did not threaten or frighten anyone," he told journalists after the Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves today.

Last Friday, a photograph of Saravanan with a pistol under his jacket was circulated on Facebook .

The photograph had been taken last Wednesday where Saravanan was to hold a press conference at the MIC headquarters, as some 20  unidentified men tried to stop him.

MIC president G Palanivel ( left ) had barred his opponents from entering the party headquarters, including Saravanan.

The party descended into infighting after the Registrar of Societies ordered the MIC to hold a re-election due to irregularities in its polls in 2013.

The re-election did not include the post for president and deputy president as they were won uncontested, but Palanivel's opponents had wanted fresh elections to include all positions in a bid to oust him in the polls.

The chaos prompted BN deputy chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin - who is also the deputy prime minister - to intervene, and Palanivel eventually conceded to fresh elections for all positions.

Saravanan said he has yet to decide if he will contest the presidency, should the fresh elections go on.

"I have not thought about it... Perhaps I will wait for God's sign on whether to contest or not," he added.