Samy hits out at DAP's Indian blueprint

Former MIC president S Samy Vellu, who is said to be making a comeback in the 13th general election, has hit out at the opposition for taking a free ride on the Indian community with last minute concessions in a bid to solicit votes.

After disappearing from the local political arena for more than two years since his resignation as MIC president in December 2010, the veteran politician issued a statement yesterday, questioning ‘Gelang Patah Declaration', the 14-point plan announced by DAP on Sunday to alleviate the socio-economic status of Indian Malaysians.

Samy Vellu said the attempt by DAP in announcing the so-called blueprint for the Indian community clearly showed that as a whole, Pakatan Rakyat was not interested in the well-being of the Indians in the country.

"Why should only the DAP come out with a separate blueprint for the Indians when it should be a task for Pakatan? This shows that Pakatan is not sincere in helping the Indian community," he added in the statement released yesterday.

Samy Vellu said the fact that only DAP invented something out of thin air for the Indian community reflected on the double standards practised by the opposition pact.

DAP, he claimed, had all the while been seen as a Chinese-based party, but all of a sudden, it is seen as championing the Indian community instead.

"What happened to Pakatan's manifesto, which did not highlight anything for the Indians?" he asked.

Samy Vellu said DAP had realised that Pakatan was losing the support of the Indians and hence, had hatched a last minute attempt to win them over.

"This is not the right way. They have to be sincere in what they want to do for the Indians. Don't just come out with a last minute plan to woo the Indians. The so-called blueprint by DAP for the Indians did not receive the support of Pakatan leadership.

"If it had received the support from Pakatan leadership, why only (DAP parliamentary leader) Lim Kit Siang must announce the so-called blueprint? This shows that there is no sincerity within Pakatan leadership in helping the Indians," he said.

'Empty promises by Pakatan'

On the other hand, Samy Vellu stressed that BN under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has rolled out a well-coordinated action plan for the Indian community, which is being implemented.

"We have seen the developments that have been brought by the prime minister for the Indian community, unlike Pakatan which just makes empty promises in a bid to get their votes.

"The Indian community will not fall for these kinds of tricks. The Indians have benefitted from the action plan of the BN government and they will continue to enjoy the benefits if they vote for BN in the coming election," he added.

After relinquishing his 31-year presidency in MIC, Samy Vellu was appointed by Najib in 2011 as Malaysia's special envoy on infrastructure to India and South Asia, which carries ministerial status.

He is now BN chairperson for Sungai Siput, the parliamentary constituency he held for eight consecutive terms until 2008 when he was defeated by Dr Michael Jeyakumar of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), by a wafer-thin 1,821 majority.