Vell Paari pounces on Ramasamy over 'Dr M only for Malay votes' admission

GE14 | MIC treasurer-general S Vell Paari has criticised Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy over the latter's apparent admission that Pakatan Harapan recruited Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the sole purpose of bringing in Malay votes.

In a statement today, Vell Paari cited a video of Ramasamy's speech in Penang last month, which he received via WhatsApp.

In the edited minute-long video clip – which lists the date as April 28 and the location as Seberang Perai – Ramasamy is heard telling a crowd that the opposition has not forgotten about Mahathir's misdeeds during his 22-year rule.

“We used to be worried about Mahathir, he led as prime minister for 22 years. We all didn’t like Mahathir at the time.

“Now he has come to Harapan, saying he rejects (caretaker prime minister) Najib Abdul Razak, rejects Umno, rejects BN.

“Why did we accept him? It is not because we have forgotten what he has done. We accepted Mahathir to pull Malay votes to support Harapan,” he said.

Mahathir now chairs Harapan, and is the opposition coalition's choice for prime minister, should it emerge victorious in the May 9 polls.

According to Vell Paari, the clip is evidence that Ramasamy and other Harapan leaders lied when singing praises about Mahathir's experience when Bersatu joined the coalition.

“The statement clearly shows that opposition leaders, who previously said Mahathir was accepted into Harapan because of his experience of being prime minister for 22 years, lied to pull wool over the eyes of the Malaysian people.

“Moreover, statements from a few opposition leaders that Mahathir was accepted into Harapan because he was most qualified to be prime minister was just all drama (sandiwara).

“Actually Mahathir is just being used by opposition leaders to pull in Malay votes,” he added.

Vell Paari – who previously locked horns with Ramasamy over the Penang tunnel controversy – claimed that the video showed that the DAP leader's politics is shorn of principles.

“Just for the sake of power and expediency of opposition politics, he is willing to sell his principles and work together with Mahathir.

“Are unprincipled leaders like this who the people want to lead Penang and Malaysia? I am convinced the answer is a resounding no,” he said.

Mahathir and Bersatu had filled a void with regard to Malay votes, created by former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's incarceration and PAS' exit from Harapan's predecessor Pakatan Rakyat. - Mkini