MIC president Samy Vellu was booed and publicly humiliated when he turned up to officiate at the Aattam 100 Vagai 3 (100 types of dance) performance at the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa) last night.
Sources tell me the crowd of 2,000-3,000 shouted obscenities at him including “po-dah” (the rude version of “get lost”) and he didn’t get a chance to complete his speech. One source told me he was surprised to hear that the women in the audience appeared more aggressive in admonishing Samy.
Bear in mind, this was a cultural event and not a political forum, so it would have been attended by a diverse crowd of Indian Malaysians – who have now become politically awakened as never before.
The event was supposed to be telecast “live” by Astro Vaanavil (Channel 201) and beamed to India, Singapore, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. Apart from Astro, the media partners supporting the dance show were Sri Lanka Rupavhini (TV) Corporation, Jaya TV India, Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation and Media-Corp TV12 Singapore Pte. Ltd. So Samy’s image in the region would have suffered more than a little dent.
Earlier yesterday, Samy Vellu was huddled with Penang MIC division heads in a closed-door meeting at the Equatorial Hotel near Pisa, probably discussing the Hindraf developments. I gather that 40-50 outsiders, probably Hindraf supporters, were prevented from nearing the hotel during the day.
Such is the anger on the ground among Indian Malaysians that Samy Vellu’s political days could well be numbered. In fact, I would say he has become a major political liability for the BN – but then who else have they got in the MIC? Then again, it’s not any single individual that Indian Malaysians are upset about (though Samy is probably the focal point of their frustration in view of scandals such as the Maika fiasco) – it’s the whole system they are railing against: the sense of being economically marginalised and disempowered for so long (in the same way that many other Malaysians of other ethnic groups are).
If at the last general election, the MIC delivered 80-90 per cent of the Indian Malaysian vote to the Barisan, several Indian Malaysians I have met are predicting that this time the MIC would be hard-pressed to deliver even 10 per cent.
That may be wishful thinking – and an underestimation of the BN “machinery” and mastery of racial politicking – but all indications are that the MIC is going to suffer a serious setback at the polls. (It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out!) And that could spell trouble for the BN in a string of constituencies, especially in areas where the majorities were wafer-thin in the 2004 general election.
Meanwhile, Anwar Ibrahim has been hitting the hustings in Penang over the weekend, holding a series of talks and forums in the state. From what I hear, he has been drawing significant multi-ethnic turnouts at some of these events including a session with Indian Malaysian squatters in Bukit Gelugor who are facing eviction. He promised them that, if elected, he would try and do something about their plight.
He appears to be having some impact, working the ground. Have a look at this Malaysiakini videoclip to see the rapport he has struck with Indian Malaysians at an earlier rally in Jalan Kebun, Klang on 14 Dec attended by 4,000 people.
The BN has good reason to be worried. All of a sudden, cracks are appearing in the BN fold and the juggernaut appears to be creaking. Will Samy dare to show up at any other public event in the future? Stay tuned…
Only booed? No shower of shoes and other projectiles? This means that the Indians are still wavering and not yet dead set against Samy. They have not yet decided to throw off the BN yoke
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[...] and jeered on live TV at some public event. Uncle Kit’s take here and Anil Netto’s here. [...]
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Thanks for posting this uplifting news Anil.
Sami Vellu is rapidly loosing what little credibility he may have left.
I think his popular nickname will soon change from ‘Semi Value’ to ‘Scrap Value’.
May I take the opportunity to wish SV goodbye and good riddance.
The Indian Malaysian will be much better off without him.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
When a “Bum” stays too long, they will be thrown into the “SCRAP” yard.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
he has to go by all means. all tamilians, be smart to select yr future rep.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The indian problems are real,serious and need desperate solution for the short term and for the long term prospect of all Malaysian Indians.There is a likely hood of it been hijacked by hooligans and gangsters under the pretext of fighting for Indian rights .We must not let this happen.It will be a sad day for all of us if that happens.The ppl who will be affected are always the innocent ones.We must let the politicians doing the fight.Thats the right platform to address these sensitive issues…..cheers
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This is the link in you tube on the events where Samy vellu was booed. Not very clear though.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
this is the true voice of the public!! that pak lah choose not to hear… they will only come out with their own version of majority voices…
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Indians have been sidelined from ‘woomb to tomb’ in every aspect of life. From the hospitals, schools, working life and also in death (burials). So what is the excitement over the word “ethnic cleansing”. I am sure the people who used this phrase meant it in an overall sense, as being lawyers and well educated professional, they know the meaning of the phrase. It does’nt take a genius to figure it out that what the indians are undergoing is a variant of ‘ethnic cleansing’ of their existence and not being persecuted like what happened in Bosnia. The poorly educated politicians are just harping on the phrase to get political mileage. Samy Veloo has failed miserably. He has to go and I am not surprised at the ‘booing’ in Penang
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Serve the b***** right !!!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
My Indian Friends,
My deepest regret is that you have taken too much time to realise and act. Samy’s and MIC’s absurdities have been blatantly clear for umpteen years.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It is sad that one does not know when his time is up. Just like mahatir, he left 5 years too late. He thinks too much about himself and Samy is going down the same road.
Here, it applies also to those whose image or rather whose personalities is tainted yet want to remain in office and wirse still want to move up. This applies to Najib. Please go.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[...] Samy Vellu booed on “live” TV; are his political days numbered? [...]
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Finally the Indians are waking up.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I saw it on tv astro 201. The camera and director were trying to coverup, but the booing was too loud. I even saw the people in the crowd giving a grand thumbs down and showing gestures of ‘get lost’. But the shameless Samy Velu waved as though people were cheering him. The host was panicking and it was obvious that they did not know what to do. The male host nudged the female host to carry on… and this was on TV. Samy… you are toast… roti bakar.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Samy vellu runs MIC -with Malaysian Indian C***** they have Made Indians Cry for what they deserve. This Ketua P******* India Malayisa should be arrested under ISA, he can’t adminster the MIC which was indians property once upon a time, one man show, no IPF, No PPP, No other leaders can represent indians in malaysia. Please release him from MIC and BN
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
What are u indian’s waiting for, send in your resignation from MIC if this guy can’t give ua a date like Dr.Mahtir, Lim Kheng Yeaik to give way for new leader
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If I were Samy Vellu ( indeed I would not be him!) I would say enough is enough and leave the scene gracefully. RR
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think the frustrated will have to think very carefullfy of their actions. Because who do you think can talk with the government and the government will listen to him. It is a very thin line here
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I guess Semi Value days are numbered .
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
No matter what, Indian still support BN in the next GE. Without Samy, Indian will go no where.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Why the Malaysian especially the Indians waiting so long to realise that Samy Vellu is Semi Value and Scrape Value?
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Thanks to Penang makkals for booing samy velu publicly, I hope this booing should not be stopped. KL makkals must boo him in the next Thaipusam festival Batu caves where he gives speech.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Australia kicked out John Howard despite a strong economy and the lowest unemployment in thirty years. He was seen as being arrogant and cocky. As for Samy Vellu he should have been kicked out years ago by Dr.M if the MIC failed to do so. What legacy has he to show for his long tenure as President of MIC?
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
That old man should be scraped long time back. Still not too late to kick him out, for good.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0