Vell Paari: MIC must demand action against Ridhuan, Ibrahim or lose Indian votes

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 — S. Vell Paari has told his MIC president to push for action against Datuk Dr Ridhuan Tee for disparaging Hindus or the party strategy director will ask Indians to vote against the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN).

In an open letter to party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel today, Vell Paari said the matter should be raised at next week’s Cabinet meeting to press Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to act against the Muslim academic and also Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

“If no action is taken against Ridhuan and Ibrahim, I would push forward my proposal in advising the Indians who to vote for. I would use the MIC platform to go forward with my proposal.

“The only way for you (Palanivel) to stop me is to sack me. The ball is in your court,” read Vell Paari’s letter, which was copied to news portal freemalaysiatoday.com.

Vell Paari (picture) is the son of the longest-serving MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who retired after Election 2008 in favour of Palanivel.

The MIC Youth lodged a police report on Wednesday over an article by Tee, which appeared in the Sinar Harian daily, headlined “Kesabaran Umat Islam Ada Had”, that was published on Monday.

MIC Youth information chief S. Subramaniam said the article was “derogatory” and “insensitive” to Hindus as it talked about the controversial movie “Vishwaroopam”, but the writer had wrongly linked it to Hindus.

Vell Paari noted that Tee, an associate professor with the National Defence University, also held other government-related positions.

“He sits in these positions including the Prime Minister’s Department and hits out at MIC, a member of the government that he is employed by. This is a clear case of insubordination and defiance of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s 1 Malaysia concept.

“As a MIC member, where we represent Indians of all faiths and a member of a race called Malaysian, I cannot remain quiet on this sort of issues any longer, which tend to crop up with increasing frequency. The community wants to know what is our response,” he said.

… Why must is it always be a one-way street when it comes to our sensitivity? — S. Vell Paari

Vell Paari also criticised the lack of action taken against Ibrahim, who had called for the burning of Malay-language bibles which contained the word “Allah”, banned by local syariah law.

“With regard to the controversy regarding the use of the word Allah, it went to the extent where a certain imbecile called for bibles to be burnt. Why must is it always be a one-way street when it comes to our sensitivity?” he added.

Vell Paari told Palanivelt that the party cannot remain silent on such issues, adding that the MIC president, who is Cabinet minister, had direct access to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and can press for immediate action.

“If we continue to remain silent on such issues because we are afraid of antagonising certain powers-that-be, then we might as well close shop and convert the MIC headquarters into a banana leaf restaurant.

“We cannot hold our heads high when our tails are between our legs,” he said in his letter.