The many holes in great leader’s interview

Below is a Bernama report on the great leader’s RTM interview last night (with my comments in italics):

Samy Vellu Admits Illegal Assemblies Affect Indian Community's Loyalty

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Velly tonight admitted that the recent street demonstrations organised by an illegal group, to a certain extent had affected the loyalty of Indians towards the government.
(Illegal group? Why did it come up? What caused the resentment on the ground?)

He said based on feedback, there were Indians who began questioning why the issues raised by the community had not been resolved by the government.
(So we must thank the illegal group for being the catalyst, no?)

"There were those who questioned why their applications had not been entertained. So, I have asked the Prime Minister to give a bit more to the Indians (in development programmes) considering their history (in the country). The Prime Minister has agreed to consider this," he said.
(Only now he has asked? To give a bit more? How about giving what is deserving and being equal?)

Interviewed in the "60 Minit Bersama Menteri" (60 Minutes with the Minister) programme on RTM1 tonight, Samy Vellu said most of those who were involved in the illegal street demonstrations had regretted their actions.
(Where did he get this fact from? I know scores who are calling out for more such protests to drive home a stronger message to MIC and the government)

"I've met with many of them and I asked them why did they get themselves involved. They said they were a bit "hot" that day because there were people who made them "hot". But now they have cooled down and have come to realise that street demonstrations are not the best way to ask for something," he said.
(Is this what we say utter bollocks? Did he talk to the 20,000 people who had gathered there? OR how about thousands of others who were stopped from coming to KL that day)

The Works Minister said he had also explained to them that most of the issues raised had been discussed by the Cabinet over the last several months.
(Only in the last few months? So all this while MIC was just sleeping in the meetings and after 50 years, only now have been playing some pro-active role?)

In fact, he said, steps were being taken by the government to improve the lot of the Indians in this country.
(Steps taken only after thousands had poured onto the streets to show their disgust? So the community was taken for granted all this while then?)

"But we must remember that we will not get 100 per cent of what we asked for. Where can you find a government that fulfils 100 per cent of the people's requests?
(Ask this question to the privileged community in this country and they will tell you that if they don’t get 100 percent of what they asked, they will not think twice about ditching Umno.)

"The problems are not just faced by the Indians but also by the Chinese and Malays. They also make demands and they too don't get 100 per cent," he said.
(Malays have the full political backing and complete constitutional rights. Chinese have a strongly bonded community which controls a big chunk of the economy. Indians only have MIC which has been an utter failure, speeding up the community’s further marginalization.)

Samy Vellu also described the illegal group as "sightless" for not being able to see the progress achieved by the Indians in the last 50 years.
(Have we been successful? What progress? Our share in the national economy piece has shrunk. We top the crime rates. We are the biggest community with social issues. The list continues.)

"In the old days, 80 per cent of them worked in the estates, just to earn wages, and had no assets or savings. But 50 years later, many of them have become professionals and businessmen with high education, and they now have assets and savings," he said.
(Do we still have estates? People have been forced out of their livelihood and end up as squatters now. The successful ones did it on their own accord or through the tears and sweat of their parents. The government or MIC cannot take credit for their progress. At the same time, many others have been left behind. Responsibility for this is surely with the government and MIC.)

He also described the group's attempt to claim for compensation for the Indian community from the British government as unrealistic, because from his discussions with several lawyers, it would be impossible for the British to fulfill it.
(Will the great leader never understand that it was just an attempt to gain publicity to what’s happening to the Indian community in this country?)

"These lawyers told me that if their claim is fulfilled because the British brought their forefathers here to work in the estates, then there would be more claims from other countries such as India. The British government could become bankrupt," he said.
(Fair point Mr Minister. But look at the international publicity this group has now gained.)

On the question about unity among the multiracial society, Samy Velly said that it was a bit shaky at the moment and needed to be strengthened like the way it used to be when he was still a child.

"I suggest that we develop subjects on unity in schools and we teach our children on the repercussions of disunity, to remind them of history and about how the people could live together as Malaysians," he said.

Samy Vellu was also asked whether he was ready to let go his MIC presidency considering his many contributions during his 30 years of leading the party.

He said that he would do so "when the time comes".

"I shall let it go when the time comes. But I believe at the moment, I still need to settle many things. When I have settled them, I'd give up the post... another person with calibre can then take over," he said.
(When the time comes? I think the time came and left. It’s long overdue. He has never been so out of touch with the community now as he has ever been. He is under pressure. He can’t just leave; otherwise his party will just collapse, thanks to his style of leadership. He has the steady the ship but by then it might be too late – not for the community but for the party and its leader. The community, I reckon, has finally woken up)