Dr M does not understand loyalty, no need to comment on his statement, says MIC chief


  • Nation
  • Monday, 15 Jan 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad does not have the right to speak about loyalty and there is no need to entertain his recent controversial statement on the matter, says Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran.

The MIC president said the party has more important things to do than to be taken up by his statement questioning the loyalty of Indians in the country.

ALSO READ: Dr M’s remarks against Indian community roundly slammed

"Loyalty is a concept alien to Tun M (Tun Dr Mahathir) because he was not loyal to Umno, not loyal to Bersatu and not loyal to Pakatan Harapan, which appointed him Prime Minister in 2018.

"... we do not want to comment about a person who doesn't understand the meaning of loyalty. Just ignore him if he talks about loyalty; we have other work to do," he told reporters after attending a Ponggal celebration near the MIC building here Monday (Jan 15).

ALSO READ: Don't make racially divisive statements, Gobind tells Dr M

Recently, a news portal reported that Dr Mahathir claimed in an exclusive online interview with an Indian satellite TV channel that Malaysian Indians were not completely loyal to the country as they were still "inexorably tied" to their country of origin.

Asked whether MIC would take any action on the racially sensitive statement, Vigneswaran said it was up to the government to do so.

He said MIC, which is part of Barisan Nasional (BN), subscribes to the Federal Constitution and that Indians are loyal to the country.

Vigneswaran also questioned the status of statesman accorded to Dr Mahathir, saying the latter had not shown himself to be a leader for all races. - Bernama

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Nation

Seoul hit by heaviest snowfall in over 100 years
Azmin Ali appointed Bersatu sec-gen
Polygamy can arrest decline in national birth rate, suggests Opposition MP
We only want what's ours, says Sanusi on Kedah's claim over Penang
Penang state assembly approves Budget 2025, adjourns
Number of flood victims increases in K'tan, T'ganu, Kedah and Perlis
Ananda Krishnan a key figure in developing Malaysian media, telco and entertainment industries
Negri Sembilan's 2025 Budget among six Bills passed by state assembly
13 Muar pupils suffer food poisoning, school canteen shut down for two weeks
'Kelantan floods worse than 2014's 'bah kuning' disaster' (with picture gallery)

Others Also Read