Attack on PKR man draws more flak

A Kita chief and a business figure speak harsh words against MIC Youth.

PETALING JAYA: A Kita state chief and a business leader have joined the chorus of criticism against MCA Youth over Wednesday’s assault of Puchong PKR chief S Murali.

R Sri Sanjeevan, who heads Kita in Negeri Sembilan, called on MIC Youth to renounce violence in settling political scores, and Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar said MIC should learn to respect freedom of expression.

Wednesday’s attack happened just outside the Prime Minister’s Office, where a PKR delegation led by vice-president N Surendran had gathered to deliver a memorandum over the issue of stateless Indians in Malaysia.

Murali was attacked by several people, believed to be members of MIC Youth. MIC Youth chief T Mohan tried but failed to stop the attackers.

Murali is still warded in a private hospital and MIC disciplinary committee chief KS Nijhar has promised an investigation into the incident.

Sanjeevan said he doubted that the MIC Youth members, given their “unruly behaviour”, could be groomed to become future leaders.

“Is it only violence that the MIC Youth members learn in their party? We may have political differences, but at end of the day, we are all humans with thinking capabilities and we should abhor violence,” said Sanjeevan.

He added that MIC members should know that it was not only their image that was tarnished by the incident, but that of the entire Indian community.

“MIC president G Palanivel is bringing a lot of good changes in the party. I hope he will take action against the perpetrators soon.”

Sharing Sanjeevan’s sentiments, Sivakumar said MIC members should have known better than to behave violently after the thumping the party received in the last general election.

“MIC should also know that the laws of the land apply to them as well. They should also learn to respect a person’s freedom of expression,” he said.

Sivakumar, a former MIC member, said MIC Youth should learn to face challenges by engaging all stakeholders in a collaborative way.

“The educated masses, especially the Indians, have learned to respect all elected representatives irrespective of their political ideologies,” he said.