MIC Treasurer Vell Paari wants the Penang Chief Minister to explain to the Malaysian as to why he was photographed with an Indian businessman who was earlier detained by the MACC for his involvement in some consultancy deals with Zenith Consortium on the undersea tunnel project.
Vell Paari has raised this matter to Lim because he was personally involved with another MIC leader by the name of Ramanan in exposing this Indian businessman for cheating members of the Indian community about two years ago.
Since this suspect an Indian businessman was involved in cheating members of the Indian community it was not proper for Lim to have posed for a photograph with him.
Even if Lim had taken a photograph with this individual some time back I am not sure whether he would known in detail about him as alleged by Vell Paari. Leaders of governments have the habit of posing for photographs with groups and individuals that they hardly know well. Elected leaders must be seen to be friendly and amicable to those who approach them. I don’t popular politicians need to know in detail about the persons that they may be posing for photographs.
Vell Paari must be naive not to understand why politicians and leaders take photographs with members of the public. I don’t see anything wrong for Lim to have photographed with this individual and I am sure that he would not have known about the background of this suspect businessman.
If Vell Paari claims that this individual had cheated members of the Indian community how come he was not arrested and prosecuted by the police. What expose is Vell Paari taking about. Mind you if Lim had taken the photograph then probably took place where before the expose by Vell Paari and Ramani.
Is Vell Paari telling Lim that he should have the premonition that the suspect was about to do something bad later and that he could avoided the photograph with him?
If there had been much publicity of this suspect in cheating the Indian community I am sure Lim would have avoided been seen with him. Since the suspect was not arrested or charged for cheating then obviously Vell Paari did not do good job in fully exposing the crimes of the suspect.
Why should Lim explain his presence with the individual to the Indian community. If at all anybody needs to explain are some BN leaders including a few in the MIC who not only had photographs taken with this suspect but had amicable relationship with him on business matters. The photographs with MIC leaders are available and they will be released to the public in due course. I am sure that Vell Paari is aware of the wife of the suspect who is supposed to enjoy excellent relationship wives of some powerful leaders!
Vell Paari should not try to earn some browny points by asking Lim to explain something petty to the Indian community. There are better and more urgent things for Lim to do as the head of the Penang state.
Even if the suspect had robbed the Indian community why is he still roaming around freely. Yes he might have cheated some but surely not the entire Indian community.
The real culprits who have taken the Indian community for long ride over 50 years are none other than the BN leaders including the MIC leaders. Vell Paari cannot pretend that he is totally oblivious to this stark historical fact that has bedevilled the Indian community from making progress.