Media Statement by Karpal Singh in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 31^st March 2008: 

Samy Vellu should apologise  

I call upon MIC president, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, to publicly apologise to the Kota Alam Shah Assemblyman M. Manoharan’s wife S. Puspaneela for publicly claiming that she had sought his help for the release of her husband.

Samy Vellu should not mislead the public by saying that Pushpaneela had met up with him when, in fact, she had not. It is incongruous for Samy Vellu to request for the release of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders detained under the Internal Security Act when, in fact, before their detention on 13^th December 2007, he had made a public statement that he would have no objections if the five were detained at the behest of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was then the Minister of Internal Security.

Samy Vellu should not resort to cheap tactics to regain the confidence and support of the Indians in the country which support he has lost for neglecting their interests. He should realize when the curtain falls, rejected and discarded politicians should drown themselves in dignity.

Manoharan is a loyal member of the DAP. It is the DAP which will enlist support, both nationally and internationally, for the freedom of the five Hindraf leaders.

In the meanwhile, I would advise Samy Vellu to back off and not seek cheap publicity.

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* Karpal Singh, MP for Bukit Gelugor & DAP National Chairman