Cops to investigate Saravanan for alleged intimidation

The picture of MIC vice-president Datuk M. Saravanan with a gun tucked at his side. – Facebook pic, January 31, 2015.Police are investigating MIC vice-president Datuk M. Saravanan over the way he was carrying his firearm after a photograph of him showing a gun tucked into his trousers went viral.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Tajuddin Md Isa told The Malaysian Insider that Saravanan was being probed for alleged intimidation.

"A licensed private firearm cannot be openly shown as this could cause intimidation," Tajuddin said.

He added that there was also a possibility that the Youth and Sports deputy minister could be probed for negligence after he admitted to having previously left his firearm in his vehicle.

"If not carried by the user, the firearm must kept away under lock and key and handled with caution, as reasonable action must be taken to ensure it is secure."

Tajuddin added that police had yet to receive any reports of criminal intimidation over Saravanan's gaffe.

The photograph was taken during a commotion outside the MIC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

Both he and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam were trying to enter the party headquarters to hold a press conference over party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel’s decision to remove several MIC state leaders.

Saravanan yesterday insisted he was not threatening anyone, saying that his jacket had moved a bit, exposing the gun's grip.

"I have been carrying a gun for the last 15 years, did not point it to anyone. So how can I threaten anyone?” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Saravanan said although he had been provided security by the police, he still kept the Glock.

“I renew my licence every year and I often leave it in the car when I attend functions or events,” he said, adding that he had forgotten to do so that day.

MIC has been in crisis since the Registrar of Societies (RoS) found irregularities in the party polls and ordered it to conduct fresh elections.

The RoS directive also sparked fears that failure to conduct fresh polls
would result in the party's deregistration.

Palanivel and Subramaniam on Thursday agreed on a moratorium to discuss the current party crisis with Barisan Nasional chief Datuk Seri Najib Razak to prevent the situation from escalating.

Palanivel said the moratorium would give the warring factions a period of “non-crisis“ to work on the next course of action.

“We will meet and decide on the next course of action that will satisfy all quarters as soon as possible.

“I agreed to a moratorium to allow both sides to discuss with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as chairman of BN to find the best way forward to resolve the crisis,” he said in a brief statement yesterday.

In the changes to state party chiefs, Saravanan was replaced as federal territory state liaison committee chairman with Datuk Rajoo Vyraperumal, while Tan Sri Ramasamy Muthusamy took over from Palanivel as Perak chief.

Datuk Ganesan Arumugam was named as new Negri Sembilan state liaison committee chief, taking over from Datuk S. Sothinathan.

Subramaniam and Saravanan have been urging Palanivel to respond to the RoS findings that the elections of its central working committee members in 2013 were problematic and that fresh polls should be held.

Palanivel has been accused of stalling by both, but the MIC chief insists he is doing his best to resolve the situation.

- TMI