An Indian-based party is challenging MICs claim that two estates in Selangor have received more than RM100,000 worth of assistance.

Parti Insan Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim), which has yet to be officially registered, has asked the rural development ministry to identify the residents of the Nigel Gardner and Bukit Tagar estates who the MIC claims have received more than RM100,000 worth of assistance.

If the ministry fails to do so within a week, we shall deem the claim dubious and call for the resignation of the MIC deputy minister who made it, said Prim pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar in a statement today.

We also call upon the rural development minister to order an immediate inquiry as to whether the ministrys funds are actually reaching the right people, he said.

Yesterday, deputy rural development minister and MIC member of Parliament for Hulu Selangor, G Palanivel, claimed in news reports that the two estates had received more that RM100,000 worth of assistance.

Palanivel said 56 people from the two estates were receiving monthly cash payments totalling RM6,210 from the district welfare office.

NGO audit

Uthayakumar also lambasted MIC for sacking the partys Nigel Gardner branch chairperson, Ayan Perumal, after the latter asked opposition party DAP to help poor families in the estate.

Now, with (Ayans) claim of poverty (in the estate), the question is where and to whom did ministry funds go to? This is the tip of the iceberg, he said.

Uthayakumar urged the MIC leadership to act with compassion and dignity in handling Ayans case and not further marginalise the Indian community.

The sacking of Ayan only goes to show that there is no voice for the Indian community under the present MIC leadership, he said.

Meanwhile, DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said the RM100,000 worth of assistance given out to the two estates, if true, has not been properly utilised.

Lim suggested that an audit be conducted by independent non-governmental organisations.

He too, also urged MIC president S Samy Vellu to stop all measures to punish Ayan for attempting to highlighting the plight of the estates poor.