MIC president S Samy Vellu has lambasted Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Anwar Ibrahim, accusing him of deceit and not helping Indian estate workers when he was in power.

"He is the biggest liar," a fuming Samy Vellu told a press conference in Shah Alam yesterday.

He was responding to the opposition leader's allegation that MIC had neglected the welfare of Indian estate workers.

On Saturday, malaysiakini reported that Anwar, who was a deputy prime minister until his sacking in 1998, had launched a scathing attack against the MIC president.

Among others, he claimed that Indians in estates were treated like slaves and subjected to abject poverty.

"They live in fear of thugs and their overlord minister. The Indians are treated as third class, not by us but by you," he said, referring to Samy Vellu, who is also works minister.

Anwar also claimed that estate workers were intimidated and bribed into supporting the Barisan Nasional during the recent Ijok by-election.

'Third stage of grief'

Meanwhile, Samy Vellu accused Anwar of doing nothing for the Indian community, let alone estate workers, when he was deputy prime minister.

"I have proof of letters sent by me to him seeking for assistance (for estate workers when Anwar was deputy prime minister), but he did not lift a finger to help," he said.

He also claimed that Anwar built his political career by playing on the emotions of the electorate. The veteran minister then proceeded to offer a psychoanalysis of the opposition icon.

"Anwar isn't saying anything that is real. He is merely touting lies and half-truths in an attempt to enrage you.

"Just because Anwar is standing on a soapbox doesn't mean he has the moral high ground. His rhetoric is similar to a man experiencing what psychologists refer to as the third stage of grief," he said.

According to Samy Vellu, the former deputy premier had experienced the first and second stages of "denial" and "anger" for the past 10 years.

"Now, he has finally arrived at stage three, that is bargaining," he said, adding that the people would not fall for such "amateur stunts and political manoeuvring."

Samy Vellu said Anwar would eventually reach stage four (the final stage) that was "acceptance."

On Thursday, the veteran politician challenged Anwar to contest in his turf in Sungai Siput, Perak, should the general election be held after April next year. (When Anwar's ban from active politics expires).