Khairy to Vell Paari: 'We-are-family' - Malaysiakini

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin joined the fray today over allegations that he, and Umno, have a hand in moves to topple MIC chief S Samy Vellu.

Directing his ire at MIC central working committee member S Vell Paari - who has accused him and his party of seeking to divide MIC and topple his father S Samy Vellu - Khairy (right) said Umno holds to the principle by which BN's component parties treat each other as family.

Khairy also said BN has always respected the rights of component parties to determine their internal affairs free from the intervention of outside hands.

“Umno Youth wishes to assert that Umno has never been involved in the leadership tussle currently faced by MIC,” he said in a statement today.

“The accusation that Umno is covertly backing any individuals for the leadership of MIC is unfounded,” he added.

Khairy also said as a friend of MIC within the BN coalition, Umno Youth hopes MIC can solve its internal problems as soon as possible without resorting to pointing fingers at other quarters.

'Biadap'

Vell Paari triggered a storm earlier this week after he was quoted by online news portal Free Malaysia Today as having accused Umno of using “political assassins” to divide MIC and seeking to topple his father - MIC's president of nearly three decades.

Reacting to the charge, deputy Umno president Muhyiddin Yassin (left) blasted Vell Paari as being biadap (uncouth) and denied the allegations.

He also suggested that Samy Vellu advise his son against making remarks that could be deemed as offensive by other parties.

Upping the ante against Umno leaders yesterday, however, Vell Paari not only stood by his remarks but went on to demand an answer as to why one of the proponents of the Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu movement - former MIC CWC member G Kumar Amman - had implicated Khairy.

“I am confused. (Umno executive secretary) Rauf (Yusoh) said that Umno is not involved, but Kumar (in a news report) claims that Khairy was the one who had 'opened their minds'.

“I want to know: what did Khairy open his mind to exactly – to work against MIC and its leaders?” Vell Paari (right) was reported as saying.

“I know Khairy well, and I don't think he would have done so,” he added.

Despite this, Vell Paari said, aspersions have been cast on Khairy and the Umno Youth chief must clarify the matter.