Tok Mat has selective memory, should I cry or laugh? Saravanan questions

MIC deputy president Datuk M Saravanan pointed out that Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had selective memory as it was Umno who had, repeatedly decided unilaterally, without the approval of the BN Supreme Council.

“Honestly, when I see this sudden concern about “discussing at BN meetings,” I don’t know whether to cry or laugh. Still, I thank Tok Mat for his advice. But let the record show: MIC will never remain silent when the dignity of our community and the principles of coalition politics are at stake.

“After the 15th General Election, BN was thrown into crisis when Zahid Hamidi unilaterally issued a letter to the Palace, claiming BN’s support for Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister. This was done without the knowledge, approval, or mandate of the BN Supreme Council.

“When this betrayal came to light, three out of four component parties unanimously agreed that Zahid should step down, and Tok Mat should assume the BN chairmanship.

“Tok Mat himself agreed, yet when the time came, he remained silent. The decision was never implemented. If BN’s own resolutions cannot be enforced, what is the point of lecturing others about “discussing in meetings”?

“All BN candidates were forced to sign statutory declarations. Yet these SDs only carry meaning when tabled and endorsed at the BN Supreme Council. Were they ever tabled? No. So I ask, was it not for the BN meeting? If crucial matters are never tabled, and if decisions made in the meeting are never enforced, then what value are these meetings Tok Mat is suddenly defending?

“During the six state elections, seat allocations were made unilaterally. How many seats Umno would contest, how many would go to others, all this was decided without BN consensus. When MIC and MCA were denied two additional seats, was this discussed at the BN Supreme Council? Certainly not.

“When Datuk Seri Johari Ghani was appointed as a Minister in the Cabinet reshuffle, was this appointment tabled or discussed at the BN Supreme Council? Again, it was not. These are the facts.

Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan

“When BN was offered cabinet positions, did Umno even bother discussing with us? When Cameron Highlands position was offered, was it discussed at BN Supreme Council meeting?

“And when the courts decided that the “addendum” related to Najib Razak does indeed exist, was it ever discussed at the BN Supreme Council whether the coalition should remain aligned or distance itself from those responsible? Again, there was silence.”

He said this in response to Mohamad’s call to MIC to raise their issues at the BN Supreme Council meetings instead of washing dirty linen in public.

There appears to be a breakdown in the communication between MIC and Umno as the former had also sent a representative to attend opposition party, Bersatu’s annual general meeting.

Prior to that Pas deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had invited MIC and MCA to join the federal opposition coalition, Perikatan Nasional.

Saravanan said that given Umno’s track record, it was “unfair” and “ironic” for Umno to “lecture MIC”.

“Tok Mat is a good friend, and I have always held him in high regard. But I cannot ignore the fact that at critical junctures, he appeared helpless and uncertain, caught in the rumble of internal party conflicts.

“To now turn around and lecture MIC on “speaking up”, when Umno itself bulldozed coalition partners, misled the Palace, and ignored BN’s own resolutions, is not only unfair, but deeply ironic.

“MIC has always spoken up firmly, consistently, and with principle. The real problem is not MIC’s silence, but Umno’s betrayal of coalition trust.”