MIC Youth chief has hit back at its Umno counterpart, Dr Akmal Saleh, following a heated exchange over provocative remarks about the party.
In a statement today, K Arvind criticised Akmal, whom he described as “a chip off the old block” like Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, for directing derogatory terms at MIC.
Arvind had initially condemned Zahid for calling MIC "drunk on power", concerning the party’s BN membership status. His remarks against Zahid then prompted Akmal to issue a stinging rebuke, calling the salvo against Zahid "toddy-level drunk".
Arvind (above) described such language as arrogant and contemptuous, and lamented that it was insulting not only to MIC but also to the whole Indian community.
“Like mould, so is the cake. Just as the Umno president behaves, so too does his youth chief. Akmal, if MIC Youth is supposedly drunk on toddy, are you high on ketum water instead?” Arvind said, in a scathing rebuke of the Umno Youth leadership.
He then reminded Akmal that the present Umno-MIC polemic stems from Zahid’s own remarks yesterday, when officiating the Indian Progressive Front's (IPF) annual general assembly, where he hurled vulgar and offensive words at MIC, alleging that MIC is drunk on power, consuming excessive intoxicants and the like.
"This clearly reflects the appalling and repugnant standard of leadership of the Umno president,” he said.
Arvind also challenged Akmal over the RM100 million loyalty bond imposed on all BN MPs and state assemblypersons, noting that many BN representatives, including those from Umno, are increasingly frustrated with the current leadership.
He also questioned the fairness of BN’s political rules, asking whether the anti-party defection law and the so-called RM100 million loyalty bond apply only to individual MPs.
He pointedly highlighted what he described as a double standard in Umno’s leadership.
“What about Zahid’s own leadership, which unilaterally shifted from a neutral stance after GE15 to embracing the post of deputy prime minister and cabinet minister, willingly embracing the DAP - a party that has slandered and insulted Umno for decades? Where has Umno’s chant of ‘No Anwar, No DAP’ gone? Have you ever questioned this as the youth chief?
“Those who continue to support and flatter him do so not out of loyalty, but for positions and a greedy thirst for power.
"The people know who is drunk on power and who is a political prostitute," Arvind said.
‘Where’s Umno professionalism?’
He added that if BN chairperson Zahid was "truly a gentleman", he would have stepped down after the GE15 or following the recent defeat in the Sabah state election.
"Power intoxication has gone so far that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), once labelled a political enemy before the election, suddenly became a friend, supposedly in the name of political stability in Sabah," Arvind said.
He was referring to BN formally endorsing Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor's leadership and offering to support the new state government, despite past enmity.
"Dei macha, do not forget, your president won with a majority of just over 300 votes in the last party election. MIC votes and the Indian community contributed to that victory. MIC has acted professionally and with dignity in determining the party’s direction based on the current political landscape.
"Where is Umno’s professionalism? Do not think we will remain silent when Umno leaders, including Umno Youth, launch baseless attacks on component parties merely to provoke and chase cheap publicity," Arvind added.
He then trained his guns towards Akmal for allegedly failing to strengthen BN Youth at the grassroots level, pointing to irregular council meetings and short notice for programmes.
"How many times, and when was the last time, you convened a BN Youth council meeting? Once, if memory serves. Even when there is a programme, invitations are sent out a day before. That is the level of leadership you have shown as Umno Youth chief," Arvind said.
"The intoxication and obsession with power have clouded manners and values, and this has spread to you as well. Wake up, macha!" Arvind added.
Zahid says no 'direct ties' with DAP
Earlier today, Zahid insisted that his party has no "direct ties" with DAP, stressing instead that the unity government cooperation was formed between BN and Pakatan Harapan as individual coalitions.
"We (Umno) have never had a direct relationship with DAP.
"Our relationship is between BN and Harapan," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
"Since MCA is a component party within BN and DAP is a component party within Harapan, the fundamental basis must be that this cooperation is not party-to-party, but coalition-to-coalition - and this is something that can be managed and on which mutual understanding can be reached.”
The BN chairperson said this when asked for comments on MCA president Wee Ka Siong's reported speech from the party's Dec 7 annual general meeting, warning BN against extending its cooperation with Harapan into the next general election.
Zahid's aide calls for closure
In a Facebook post today, Umno Youth exco member Fadzmel Fadzil, who is also the press secretary to Zahid, as rural and regional development minister, urged MIC to reflect on the party's position and return to closing ranks with BN, following the heated exchanges.
Fadzmel also cited a list of media reports which he argued supported the perception of MIC's "recent series of inconsistent actions".
Fadzmel argued that a list of media reports from Aug 16 up to yesterday has strengthened the perception of MIC's inconsistent stand between remaining in BN or crossing over to Perikatan Nasional.
"If Arvind were to read the full context honestly, he would understand why such an expression crossed the mind of a leader (Zahid) who today bears the heavy responsibility of steering BN through a highly dynamic political landscape," said Fadzmel. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.