PKR to hammer ‘final nail in MIC’s coffin’

PKR is set to release images of the incident which will prove its claim regarding the MyKad brawl, while MIC's S Vell Paari is prepared to quit.

PETALING JAYA: PKR will release, what it terms as “shocking unseen images”, to prove that MIC Youth was responsible for the brawl outside the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya last week.

The images would be disclosed during a press conference at the party headquarters here tomorrow morning.

Speaking to FMT regarding the matter, PKR vice-president N Surendran was confident that the images would hammer the “final nail in MIC’s coffin.”

“It will prove that both Barisan Nasional and MIC have now resorted to political violence and criminal acts against their political opponents,” he said.

According to him, the images also captured the fear in 17-year-old student B Reshina during the incident.

“The fear in her can be clearly seen from the images, they (MIC Youth members) had subjected her to an act of criminal intimidation,” said the lawyer.

Last Wednesday, Surendran had led a PKR delegation to the PMO to submit a memorandum demanding that Reshina be issued a MyKad.

At the same time, MIC Youth chief T Mohan brought a large delegation there to thank the prime minister for issuing identity cards and birth certificates to Malaysian Indians under the MyDaftar programme.

During the fracas, which Surendran previously described as a pre-meditated attack, PKR Puchong division chief S Murali sustained a fractured cheek bone, which required corrective surgery.

MIC Youth had accused the PKR delegation of hurling obscenities and throwing the first blow, an allegation which the opposition party denied.

‘We want the PM to answer’

Meanwhile, Surendran also stressed that the images would speak for themselves as to who was at fault.

“The material will reveal that MIC’s version of the incident is a lie, fabriation and a gross attempt at misleading the public,” he said.

“After the release of these images, we want an immediate answer from the prime minister on this outrageous incident perpetrated by one of his component parties,” he added.

Surendran said the images, obtained from a sympathiser who was present during the incident, would show the sequence of events which took place that morning.

With the general election around the corner, the brawl had landed another blow to MIC’s image as the party struggled to reclaim lost ground since the last general election.

The incident also caused a break in ranks when several party leaders criticised MIC disciplinary committee chief KS Nijhar for taking the Youth members involved to task and vowing to launch a probe.

In the aftermath of the incident, some observers also cast doubts on the MIC Youth chief’s political future with regard to being fielded as a candidate for a parliamentary seat.

Yesterday, the police had recorded a statement from Mohan on the fracas. Despite numerous attempts, Mohan could not be reached for comment regarding the images.

Vell Paari prepared to quit

However, MIC central working committee (CWC) member S Vell Paari said that he would resign from the party if it was proven that the MIC Youth members had attempted to attack Reshina.

“Photographs may not tell the truth as it depends on the angle. But if it can be proven that there was an attempt to attack her and if Reshina herself is willing to say this, then I will quit.

“People can say many things about me, but those who know me will tell you that I am a straight shooter. I don’t condone violence, especially if it involves a schoolgirl,” he told FMT.

On the same note, Vell Paari claimed that based on the feedback he obtained, Surendran had made Reshina walk at the front of the PKR delegation, thus putting her at risk.

“If this is true, then he should not have used her as a human shield. And when two opposing parties meet, trading of abuses is commonplace. But like I said before, I don’t tolerate violence,” he said.