Don't Be Hoodwinked By Opposition, Samy Vellu Tells Indians

Source : Bernama
Picture : Net


NEW DELHI, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Don't be deceived by the opposition's crafty political stunts but instead have faith in the government and the party -- this was MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu's message to the Indian community in Malaysia.

He urged them to beware of opposition leaders who are out to exploit the community for their own political gains.

"My message to the Indian community is don't be misled by these people," he said, referring to them as silent operators who stirred up the cause of the unregistered Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), which held an unlawful assembly in Kuala Lumpur last November, ostensibly to fight for temples but which later developed into politics.

Samy Vellu, who is here to attend the 6th Pravasi Bharaitya Divas, or conference of the Indian diaspora, told Bernama that the government had continuously helped to uplift the economic status of the Indian community but it might not have pleased all quarters.

"If they want to say the government has done nothing, they are seriously mistaken. The government is doing step by step but not to the expectation of every single man. Nowhere in the world is there a single man in a country who is happy that he has got everything."

"Two days ago, I heard an American politician say that the number one country in the world has 30 million poor (people) living below the poverty line.

"By right, there should not be any poor people in America. So what about a country which is developing? We are a developing country and we are doing what we can," he said.

Samy Vellu, who is leading a 130-strong Malaysian delegation to the three-day conference which starts here tomorrow, will be releasing a special booklet to explain the Indians' economic, social and educational achievements in Malaysia since independence.

"Lots of misunderstandings have been created in India in view of the statements made by some of our people (Hindraf). I'm going to distribute this booklet, "Malaysian Indians-Then and Now", to about 500 delegates attending the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. This will tell the position of the Indians today," he added.

The 20-page glossy booklet explains how MIC was instrumental in shaping the Indian community and touches on an array of topics, ranging from the historical perspective, development of Indians, Tamil schools to religion.