The war of words between Umno lawmaker Nazri Abdul Aziz and MIC continues to rage, with the latter now accusing the former of suffering from “political intoxication”.
According to MIC vice-president A Kohilan Pillay (above), the Padang Rengas MP is “increasingly going out of control”.
He was responding to Nazri's latest salvo against MIC president SA Vigneswaran, whom he described as a “political prostitute” for wanting to contest a safe seat in the next general election.
However, Kohilan pointed out that if Nazri’s logic is applied, more than half of the current MPs would be regarded as “political prostitutes”.
“This includes opposition MPs such as former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is rumoured to be contesting a new seat in GE15, and in the Port Dickson by-election (in 2018).
“I believe Nazri is increasingly losing control as he is constantly drunk. Drunk here doesn’t mean from alcohol, but from politics,” he told Malaysiakini.
MIC has been trading barbs with Nazri since last week over the party’s reported intention to contest 12 parliamentary seats in the 15th general election.
Initially, Nazri branded MIC as a “beggar” and attributed the party’s victories in the Malacca and Johor state elections to Umno’s goodwill.
In response, Vigneswaran said a “beggar” is more honourable than a “political prostitute”, targeting some Umno leaders who since GE14 had switched camps to support Anwar and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.
Nazri himself had backed Anwar to become prime minister in 2020.
Astro Awani today quoted Nazri as claiming that the real “political prostitutes” are those who suffered multiple losses in one seat and are now seeking to contest in safer seats.
‘No issue of safe seat’
Commenting further, Kohilan said Vigneswaran was appointed as coordinator for the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat - traditionally contested by MIC presidents.
“Vigneswaran won in Kota Raja in 2004 before he lost in 2008 in the political tsunami triggered by the Hindraf uprising. Since then, he did not participate in any general election.
“Therefore the issue of the MIC president (Vigneswaran) seeking a safe seat does not arise,” he said.
On the same note, Kohilan pointed out that Nazri was among those who provided a catalyst for Hindraf.
“We also know how the Hindraf uprising in 2008 was due to the ‘racist attitude’ of certain politicians including Nazri who called for the closure of vernacular schools,” he said.
Kohilan also questioned Nazri’s contributions in his own constituencies, during his two terms as Chenderoh MP from 1995 to 2004, and subsequently from 2004 to date after the Padang Rengas seat was created in a redelineation exercise.
“The parliamentary seat remains to be an underdeveloped area in Perak. The only success in Padang Rengas is that its MP and his family are leading a life in luxury,” he added. - Mkini
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