Gerakan tells MIC: Don't be too emotional

Gerakan elected vice-president Huan Cheng Guan called on MIC members not to be overly sensitive over his call to S Samy Vellu to step down as party president and make way for younger and more dynamic leaders.

"It’s a mere suggestion from me with the best intention to strengthen MIC and Barisan Nasional (BN). I did not intend to interfere in MIC politics," Huan told Malaysiakini in response to criticism of his statement by two MIC branch leaders from Penang.

He also advised MIC members not to be too emotional over the issue, noting: “One should not be too sensitive in politics. Otherwise you will have sleepless nights over everything."

The MIC duo - Taman Chee Seng branch chairperson R Nagarajan and Reservoir Garden branch chief MK Achuthan - had said it was unethical of Huan to interfere in the internal affairs of a BN component party.

In a joint statement released yesterday, they challenged Gerakan leaders to put their own house in order before talking about MIC.

"Gerakan should learn from its 2008 electoral debacle and correct its ways," they said.

Achuthan and Nagarajan pointed out that, unlike Gerakan, MIC under Samy Vellu’s leadership since 1979, has accumulated assets worth millions of ringgit.

"Only MIC members have the right to decide on who should become our president," they said.

Last weekend, Huan had also proposed a merger between MIC and Gerakan as a strategy to strengthen both parties.

"Since both parties have Indian members, a merger could pool together the human resources and grassroots political strength. It would help BN to regain lost ground among the Indian electorate," he had explained.

Refusal to apologise

The Penang MIC branch leader, however, claimed that Gerakan has shown that it does not safeguard the interests of the Indian community as it had failed to field a single Indian candidate in the general election last year.

"We are sure that MIC members will reject such an idea," said Nagarajan and Achuthan, who had organised a protest against Huan outside the Penang Gerakan headquarters yesterday evening.

However, the protest turned into a farce when only three MIC members turned up to voice their displeasure against Huan’s proposals.

But the unperturbed Achuthan claimed that many members had stayed away after learning that Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon (right) had apparently apologised to Samy Vellu. Huan was apparently unaware of this.

Achuthan also called on Huan to tender a public apology to Samy Vellu.

Huan, though, said the two are making a meal out of a petty issue.

"I only made proposals. It’s up to MIC to accept or reject them. (The need for) An apology does not arise here," he said.

Look at your own backyard

MIC Youth wing adviser S Vell Paari has also jumped into the issue, taking offence with Huan's remarks.

"I agree that whatever he said can be taken in the spirit of democracy and for the betterment of BN," he said.

"However he must realise that it is improper for a leader of a coalition party to delve into the matters of another coalition partner."

If Gerakan is truly interested in safeguarding the plight of the Indian community, it should then do more to recognise its own Indian leaders and members.

"Will the party leadership ask the government to return its single cabinet position (held before the last general election) and give it to Kohilan?" asked Vell Paari, who is MIC president S Samy Vellu's son.

Gerakan, like MIC, was humiliated in the last general election, resulting in the party losing its single cabinet position.

However A Kohilan Pillay, a senator, was then appointed as the deputy plantation industries and commodities minister.