Saravanan blasts Muslim preacher, demands swift prosecution

Summary

• MIC deputy president M Saravanan condemns Zamri Vinoth for comparing Hindus chanting ‘vel vel’ during Thaipusam to being possessed or intoxicated, calling it irresponsible and disrespectful.

• He urges swift prosecution, citing repeated offences, and stresses that such remarks violate 3R principles and threaten harmony.

• Zamri had argued that Hindus should not be offended if others imitate or mock their practices, and such incidents did not lead to a loss of life like the Seafield temple riot in 2018.

MIC deputy president M Saravanan has condemned controversial Muslim preacher Zamri Vinoth for his offensive comparison of Hindus chanting “vel vel” during Thaipusam to individuals who are “possessed or intoxicated”.

Saravanan (above), a devoted kavadi carrier, called the remarks irresponsible and deeply disrespectful, showing blatant disregard for Hindu sentiments.

“This is a clear violation of the 3R (race, religion, royalty) principles upheld by the Madani government.

“Such inflammatory statements threaten our nation’s harmony and must not go unpunished,” he told Malaysiakini today.

The former minister pointed out that multiple police reports have already been filed and urged the government and police to take swift and decisive action to prevent further provocation.

“Zamri’s repeated offences demonstrate a total lack of sensitivity and respect for Malaysia’s multireligious society. His words are a direct insult to the Hindu faith and its rich cultural heritage,” the Tapah MP stressed.

Saravanan also called on Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to ensure Zamri is prosecuted, noting that this is not the first time he has insulted Hinduism.

“Each time he makes such offensive remarks, he hides behind weak excuses to evade accountability.

“This pattern must end. Firm action is necessary to uphold harmony and mutual respect in our society.”

Hindus shouldn’t be offended when mocked?

In a social media post, Zamri claimed that people do not find it insulting when “Hindus chant ‘vel vel' and dance as if they are possessed (macam orang kena rasuk) while intoxicated (mabuk todi)."

He argued that others are merely imitating Hindu practices, yet Hindus take offence when this happens.

"If you find it upsetting, then stop doing it so that others won’t follow.

“If you choose to continue, then don’t be offended (when others mock it). So, pick one," he stated.

Zamri also posted an image with the caption that read chanting “vel vel” does not lead to a loss of life like what happened to firefighter Adib Kassim, who died during a riot outside a Hindu temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor, in 2018.

He was commenting on the incident involving three radio announcers from Era FM being investigated over a TikTok video showing one of them dancing while another chanted “vel vel”.

The announcers, who have since apologised, were also suspended pending police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission investigations.

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