'Axed CWC member said Umno bankrolling GAS'

By FMT Staff
KUALA LUMPUR: An MIC Youth bureau chief claimed that he was told by sacked party leader G Kumar Amman that Umno was financing the Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) campaign.
T Magenthiran said this information was relayed to him during a telephone conversation with the sacked central working committee (CWC) member last week.
Kumar and another CWC member KP Samy were given the boot on Monday for openly backing former MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan, who was sacked last week.

Mugilan, who is said to be close to Umno leaders, is the driving force behind GAS which is to be launched this Sunday at the Putra World Trade Centre here, which incidentally also houses the Umno headquarters.

Meanwhile, Magenthiran claimed that Kumar had called him last Thursday to convince him to join GAS.

“He told me that Umno is fully backing GAS and that the party has given RM3 million for the campaign, so there is no reason to be afraid,” he was quoted as saying by Tamil Nesan, which is owned by MIC president S Samy Vellu's family.

Magenthiran said he rejected the offer, and told Kumar that he will remain loyal to the party leadership.

The MIC Youth leader said he believes that Kumar has been conveying the same message to other members in a bid to lure them into GAS.

“I don't know if there is any truth to his claim, but Umno must explain,” he added.

'Mugilan made the same claim'
Last week, MIC Youth secretary C Sivarraajh called on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to investigate Mugilan's alleged claim that GAS has the financial backing of Umno.
“When canvassing for support, he told our members that they were given RM3 million from Umno for this campaign.
"I am asking the prime minister, as Umno president, to clarify this claim," he told a press conference.
This week, Samy Vellu's son Vell Paari stirred a hornet's nest when he accused Umno of hiring Mugilan as a “political assassin” to finish off his father's career.
In a hard-hitting interview with FMT, the CWC member had also blamed Umno for the swing of Indian votes to the opposition in the last general election.
Following this, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin labelled Vell Paari as “biadap” (insolent) while other Umno leaders demanded an apology.
Umno leaders and Mugilan have vehemently denied the allegation that GAS is linked to Umno.