Samy Vellu says he will apologise personally to Dr Mahathir. — file pic
In a statement today, Samy Vellu said he would seek an appointment with the former prime minister to tender his apology over the incident.
“I will meet him personally to explain the whole episode and extend my apology,” he said.
“I have always had the highest respect for Tun Dr Mahathir. He is a great leader and a statesman,” he said.
The controversy started after Dr Mahathir had said last week in a newspaper interview that Samy Vellu should make way for younger leaders to take over his party, just days before a key party election.
Dr Mahathir’s remarks, and the suggestion by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak that the loss of Indian support for the Barisan Nasional (BN) was MIC’s responsibility, appeared to have upset the veteran.
Emboldened by his allies’ sweeping victory in the elections, Samy Vellu orchestrated attacks from the floor during the party assembly against Dr Mahathir.
One delegate said he wanted to give Dr Mahathir a garland of slippers.
In the past few days, Umno leaders and Malay organisations have slammed MIC over the remark and demanded a personal apology from Samy Vellu.
Samy Vellu tried to run damage control by suspending the delegate yesterday, hoping the storm would blow over.
But the pressure from Umno continued to mount, prompting his statement today, where the MIC president sung Dr Mahathir’s praises.
He said Dr Mahathir had brought tremendous development to the country and had united the people.
“He will always be respected by us and all Malaysians,” Samy Vellu said.
Earlier today, Dr Mahathir appeared unfazed and in an interview with Bernama, he was quoted as saying that he was neither angry nor sad over the “slipper” insult.
1 comment:
Hmm... MIC. I don't know what to say la.
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