‘Tiram Sasi’: Another slain gang leader with ties to MIC? - See more at: http://theantdaily.com/Main/-Tiram-Sasi-Another-slain-gang-leader-with-ties-to-MIC#sthash.4oG4tWZh.dpuf

PETALING JAYA: A gang leader was recently gunned down in Johor Bahru and questions are being raised about his ties with political party MIC.

Thirty-three year old Sasitharen Manicam, or better known as “Tiram Sasi”, who led the state’s “04” gang, was shot dead while sitting in his parked Honda City in front of a three-storey building in Taman Desa Cemerlang in Johor Baru on Tuesday night.

The late Sasi also headed the Johor wing of New Affirmative Action Movement (NAAM) – a MIC friendly NGO.

In fact, it is learnt that the three storey building where Sasi was shot at, was where the NAAM office was located at.

The NGO was established by MIC Vice-President and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk M Saravanan in late 2013 to assist Indian youths through entrepreneurship, business financing and human capital development.

The movement has received a RM37 million grant from the Federal Government through the ministry.

Sasi was also president of another NGO called “Persatuan Pembangunan Putra Wawasan” - which is an organisation to help people with regards to education, job opportunities and welfare.

The Facebook page of this NGO is filled with photos of Sasi at MIC functions as well as with Saravanan.

It is worth noting that Sasi survived an earlier attempt on his life in January this year when he was shot in his stomach and right hand.

Police have so far detained two men and a woman in connection with Sasi’s murder, although they are still tight-lipped about the motive for the killing.

Following Sasi’s murder and information about his political affiliations - S Gobi Krishnan, the secretary-general of New Gen Party Malaysia has challenged Saravanan to clarify his links with the gang leader.

He had recently tweeted “Macam mana ketua gangster 04 Tiram Sasi  yang ditembak mati hari ini boleh jadi ketua NGO NAAM yang terima dana daripada KBS?” (How can 04 gang leader Tiram Sasi who was shot dead today head the NAAM NGO which had received funding from the Youth and Sports Ministry?), hash-tagging Khairy Jamaluddin, who is in charge of the portfolio, in the posting.

For the record, Sasi’s name was among the “leaked” list of local gang leaders, as reported by Bernama in September last year, quoting sources at the height of the police’s “Ops Cantas Khas” operation against gangsterism.

The cops later denied releasing the list.

Sasi also made the list of the state’s most wanted criminals, released by the state police back in 2008, for extortion and robbery.

Photos widely circulated in Whatsapp of Sasi’s funeral depict a confusing but not shocking mix of the slain man’s affiliation with politics and gangs.

On one side there are banners bearing his photos, proclaiming him as “JB King” along with the numbers 04, while just opposite are banners from the youth wing of NAAM, carrying his photo.

Barely two days after his slaying, there are already two Facebook pages dedicated to honour Sasi.

One of the pages – Rest in Peace Tiram Sasi Anne (brother in Tamil) had thus far garnered more than 3,700 likes.

This is not the first time MIC has come under fire for links with alleged gangsters.

Late last year, Hulu Langat MIC youth chief and MIC youth exco member Kalai Aarasu Muniyandi was also included in the “leaked” list as being the leader of Kajang branch of gang “36.”

The businessman was shot three times by unknown assailants while sitting in a coffee shop in Kajang in 2010, but he survived the ordeal after two weeks’ hospitalisation.

Kalai vehemently denied being a gang leader following the revelation and was quoted as saying in reports that he would take legal action against the Home Ministry.

In light of the recent revelation, will Saravanan or MIC come forward to clarify the situation – or will this too be met by the usual silence, typical of MIC of late?

The police should also reveal the motive for the killing - whether it is politically motivated or gang-related, to avoid wild speculations.

- anidaily