The Home Ministry has issued a letter advising English-language daily Malay Mail to practice caution after the newspaper had published an article highlighting caste-politics within MIC.

The newspaper's editor Ahiruddin Attan had posted the letter dated yesterday on his blog, adding that it was issued following a demonstration by MIC Youth members on the article which was published on August 24.

The article titled 'MIC battles caste politics' highlighted caste affiliation of leaders contesting for top positions in the party elections due to be held on Sept 12.

"The key word in the letter is 'nasihat' (advice). It's an advice for us not to publish similar offending articles in the future.

"We are also duly reminded of the guidelines issued by the ministry from time to time, he said Ahiruddin commenting on the letter.

'Issue still relevant'

However, he asserted that caste-based politics is still relevant within the party in spite of objections some quarters.

vell paari vellpaariPrior to this, MIC's Unity and Social Development Committee chairperson S Vell Paari (right), had blasted the newspaper for bringing shame and insult to the Indian community and demanded that the daily apologised within 24-hours from the date of the article.

This is the first the letter from the Home Ministry, which is in-charge of publishing license as stipulated under Printing Presses and Publications Act, sent to a media organisation instructing it to adhere to guidelines under the administration of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"I can't say I like the tone of the letter, at least not more than the letters from Home Affairs Ministry which I used to receive back then," stated Ahiruddin.

"But what I can say is that the Home Affairs Ministry under this new minister has handled the matter quite well, queries were cool and collected, nobody was blowing things out of proportions.

"Can't say the same thing about some of the MIC leaders, though," he added.

According to him, the writer of the article Frankie d'Cruz and another writer Kharleez Zubin were also called in to give their statements in relation to the police reports lodged.

'It could have been written differently'

MIC Youth Chief T Mohan said that although they are happy with the intervention, he reminded that such articles should have not been published in the first place.

"It was not right to mention which clan someone was attached to because leaders were not selected based on their caste... it could have been written differently," said Mohan.

"Those who are good and those who are able to perform are those who are eligible to contest... there is no quota based on race in MIC," he stressed.