MIC president S Samy Vellu should resign for having brought ‘shame and dishonour’ to MIC, the government and nation, said Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang today.

“I call on Samy Vellu to resign as works minister not so much for being regarded as a “persona non grata” by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and other Indian leaders but because he has continued to work against the cause of Indian Malaysians for justice and fair play and an end to their long-standing political, economic, educational, social, cultural and religious marginalisation,” he said in a statement.

“This is because Samy Vellu has continued to maintain that there had been no marginalisation of Indian Malaysians during his current visit to India – when he knows in his heart of hearts that this is untrue,” he added.

According to Lim, the least that Samy Vellu, as president of MIC, should so is to openly acknowledge the fact and reality of the marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia

The veteran politician said it is only with MIC ending its denial syndrome about the marginalisation of Indians that the Barisan Nasional government could abandon its denial complex on the same issue.

“Is Samy Vellu afraid of losing his ministerial position should he speak the truth and own up to the marginalisation of the Indians in Malaysia?” he asked.

‘No credibility’

Lim also commented on Karunanidhi snubbing Samy Vellu again while attending the ‘People of Indian Origin’ conference in New Delhi.

The latest incident, said Lim, followed Samy Vellu being conspicuously snubbed by the Tamil Nadu leader (right) in Chennai last week, where Samy Vellu waited for three days for an appointment which never came.

“Samy Vellu had said he wanted to explain to Indian leaders the “the real situation concerning the Indian community in Malaysia” but clearly the MIC president has lost all credibility in Tamil Nadu which has 70 million Tamils and no Tamil leader is prepared to lend him their ears.

“Never before in his over 28 years as the sole Indian Malaysian cabinet minister has Samy Vellu brought more shame and dishonour to the MIC, government and Malaysia,” he added.

MIC and Samy Vellu have come under intense pressure following the Nov 25 massive street rally organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) which drew some 30,000 people.