GAS Goes to MACC to Lodge Report Against Samy

by Kusha Basir

SHAH ALAM, 5 AUG, 2010: The founders of Anti Samy Vellu Movement (GAS) in a press conference today lodged a report at the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) office at Wisma PKPS against MIC party president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu. Expelled MIC Central Working Committee (CWC) members KP Samy, V Mugilan and G Kumar Amaan said they are confident with their move to file the report against Samy Vellu’s alleged fraud and abuse of power. This is due to the court charge on former transport minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik were made last week in connection to the alleged cheating of government funds with regards to the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) land purchase. “MACC has given us new hope for what happened on the Liong Sik. This has proved that MACC practices transparency in their investigations regardless of any individual,” said Mugilan. Meanwhile, KP Samy said the documents of proof provided by GAS would be sufficient enough to prompt MACC to begin its investigation. “Samy Vellu in his affidavit also pleaded guilty for the deviation was done by him. Therefore MACC should act immediately to investigate this report, otherwise people would not believe in them (MACC) anymore” said KP Samy. Rather than tell reporters that this rally is just a gimmick to warn Samy Vellu they also stress that they don’t have to come up with new evidence since the previous evidence is sufficient to against Samy Vellu Also present at the press conference is their lawyers Thiru Kumar and Rajasekaran.

After Ling, GAS wants Samy hauled to court

By Patrick Lee

SHAH ALAM: When former MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik was hauled to court recently, it sent a chill down many a powerful spine. Suddenly, the notion that some were above the law had been shattered.

Certain quarters saw it as an election gimmick, crafted to exhibit the government's seriouness in dealing with corruption without fear or favour.

Inspired by this, several former MIC leaders now want the party's long-term president S Samy Vellu to face the music for his alleged misdeeds as well.

Failing which, they warned: "If Samy Vellu is not brought to justice, then the federal government will have to pay the price... Pakatan Rakyat will win the next election."

With this in mind, the Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) movement leaders knocked on the door of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) state headquarters here this morning.

V Mugilan, KP Samy and G Kumar Amman, with some 50 supporters in tow, came armed with evidence of Samy Vellu's alleged abuses with regard to MIC's education arm, the Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED) funds.

Among them, the purchase of a Rolex watch worth RM22,700 and a gold chain as well as bracelet worth RM50,000.

Mugilan, the former MIC Youth deputy chief, was axed by Samy Vellu when he had called on the 74-year-old president of three decades to quit with immediate effect. KP Samy and Kumar, both former central working committee members, were given the boot for backing the call.

'Is Samy Vellu so powerful?'

Speaking to reporters after filing the report, KP Samy said: "Ling was charged because he caused losses to the government. Likewise, Samy Vellu brought losses to the Indian community."

"This is the first time we have come to MACC as the commission represents a new hope for us," he added.

Meanwhile, Mugilan expressed disappointment with the lack of action by enforcement agencies against the MIC boss in the past despite a litany of reports having been filed over the years.

"Is Samy Vellu so strong that the government cannot take any action (against him)?" he asked. "If Ling can be charged, why not Samy Vellu? Big guns can be charged... Samy Vellu is nothing."

The GAS leaders also promised to submit more evidence regarding Samy Vellu in the coming weeks.

Among the accusations made in today's report were that the MIC president had made rampant withdrawals from MIED accounts, and awarded contracts at inflated costs to many of his associates.

Mugilan also alleged that Samy Vellu had embezzled “huge amounts” of money from MIED, in his capacity as chairman, for his own interests.

According to the report, these allegations were made by former MIED CEO P Chithirakala Vasu in the Kuala Lumpur High Court last year.

'RM31 million for landscape contract'

As for the contracts, the report claimed that Samy Vellu had awarded the landscape contract for MIC's Aimst University to a company called Nova Blooms for a whopping RM27 million.

“The principal owner of Nova Blooms G Komathy is the classmate of one Rosaline from Ipoh who is a close associate of Samy Vellu. The initial contract was for RM27 million but on the insistence of Samy Vellu, a total of RM31 million was paid to Nova Blossoms till November 2008,” it said.

However, the report claimed that MIED had to fork out an additional RM2.2 million to complete the unfinished job by Nova Blooms using a third party contractor.

Apart from this, the report also alleged that the landscape maintenance work for Aimst University was awarded to Classic Sparkle Sdn Bhd.

“Roseline of Ipoh had signed as the managing director of Classic Sparkle in all coresspondence to MIED. To the best of our knowledge, Classic Sparkle is owned by Roseline. Her bodyguard by the name of R Kanappah is holding the shares in Classic Sparkle in trust for Roseline,” it said.

The report stated that the maintenance contract was first awarded to IT Sisma International Sdn Bhd for a sum of RM18,800 per month or RM225,600 per year.

“On the instructions of Samy Vellu, the contract with IT Sisma was prematurely terminated and the same contract was awarded to Classic Sparkle at RM50,000 per month. Subsequently, this was increased to RM56,300 per month,” it added.

GAS leaders see Ling’s prosecution as BN clean-up

By Baradan Kuppusamy

July 30, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — Supporters and leaders of the Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) see the prosecution of former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik as a strong indication of the government’s determination to “clean up” Barisan Nasional ahead of the next general election.

“We are excited and we hope the government follows through with its investigation of the numerous reports we have lodged against Samy Vellu,” said GAS founder V. Mugilan.

“We need our faith in the MACC and the police restored,” he said.

He said numerous reports had been lodged against Datuk Seri Samy Vellu over the mismanagement of Maika Holdings and Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED), the education arm of the MIC, as well as the RM1 billion AIMST university scandals.

“We want the government to act without fear or favour,” Mugilan said, but added they had not heard any positive outcome.

“It’s as if complaints have all disappeared into a deep, dark hole,” he explained.

Various reports and lawsuits have been filed against Samy Vellu, and directors of Maika Holdings and MIED alleging mismanagement and corruption but while police and the MACC have are investigating these allegations, nobody has been charged despite millions in losses.

The exception is former MIED CEO Chitrakala Vasu, who was close to Samy Vellu but fell out with the MIC leader last year, and was charged in May with three counts of cheating MIED of RM4 million.

Mugilan said he is not against Dr Ling in any way but is heartened that even such a well-connected politician has been brought to the dock.

“It shows the government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is not hesitant to charge a VVIP even though the Barisan name will be tarnished,” Mugilan said. “We look forward to more individuals facing the music for what they have done.”

Another GAS leader K.P. Samy said he lodged a police report against Samy Vellu and Maika Holdings as early as 2004 but to date nothing has come of it.

“If a person like Dr Ling can be charged, what about lesser individuals,” Samy said. “I was told Samy Vellu has left for Australia.”

Both Mugilan and Samy were sacked from the MIC for demanding that Samy Vellu, who has been party president since 1979, resign immediately.

They want Samy Vellu to leave now and not in September 2012 to give the MIC time to reform and regroup under a new, untainted leadership. This is so the party can try to win back the support of the Indian community.

Sources say the prime minister’s patience is wearing thin and that he wants Samy Vellu to leave by December at the latest.

A job as ambassador at large for South Asia with ministerial rank is there for Samy Vellu’s taking to sweeten his departure, Barisan Nasional sources said.

But the charging of Dr Ling, GAS sources said, indicates time is running out for Samy Vellu and others who are clinging on as party leaders although they have been discredited in the eyes of the electorate.

“Najib needs to tie up the loose ends, and show a new and united team to the voters. He is not going to carry dead wood with him into the next election,” said sources. “It is a do or die battle and every vote counts.”