Supporters of former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad, today demanded that MIC openly apologise for the actions of some of its members, which they claimed insulted the former premier.

NONEIn a memorandum Kelabchedet.com, an NGO formed in 2008 by supporters (left) of Mahathir said, "The insult heaped upon Mahathir by one of MIC's delegates and it's youth head is something that we take seriously."

Last Sunday, Paya Besar MIC division deputy chairman Peter Sugumaran, called for the portrait of Mahathir to be garlanded with slippers.

He, however, has since apologised admitting lapse of judgement "in the heat of the moment.. [when] the words just came out of my mouth."

However the party got caught in another tight situation when MIC youth head T Mohan yesterday called for the former premier to be disciplined by Umno for "interfering in the affairs of the MIC."

Condemning all acts and attempts to damage the good relations among BN component parties and racial unity that it said have existed since pre-merdeka times, Kelabchedet.com "demands and suggests that the MIC leadership take the following steps in order to avoid any speculation and issues which may lead to disharmony among the races and rectify society's misconceptions about the incident."

Demands by club members

The steps demanded and suggested by Kelabchedet.com are:

  • MIC must apologise openly via press conference, or media release to all print, electronic and alternative media on the impoliteness of its members who have insulted Mahathir.
  • MIC must hold transparent investigations into the matter and punish those responsible under existing provisions in its constitution.
  • MIC must also announce to the media full details of their findings which shall include the name, rank, division represented and picture of the guilty party as well as the type and form of punishment accorded to them by the party's Disciplinary Committee.
  • The member in question must also apologise openly through announcements to the media and in person to Mahathir.
  • MIC's youth head must retract his statement that called for Umno to take disciplinary actions against the former premier and openly apologise for his inappropriate remarks.
While acknowledging MIC's temporary measure of suspending Sugumaran for his controversial remarks, the pro-Mahathir NGO feels that more permanent and sterner measures are needed.

The memo was also copied to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Mahathir, Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali and the chief editors of all major dailies.

The memorandum followed police reports and protest actions by several Malay NGOs who have hit out at MIC over the ‘slipper-garland' issue.