Victory to GAS: We caused his head to roll

THU, 30 SEP 2010 15:40

By G Vinod

KUALA LUMPUR: The Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) movement has claimed credit for hastening the MIC president's exit from power.

In a text message to FMT, GAS coordinator V Mugilan said: “GAS has successfully pressured the party president to relinquish his position before his own retirement plan.”

He was responding to Samy Vellu's announcement today that he would relinquish his post next January and pave the way for his deputy G Palanivel to take over.

Mugilan, the former MIC Youth deputy chief, had formed GAS after he was booted out of the party by the president for openly asking the latter to step down.

Two others, former MIC Central Working Committee members KP Samy and G Kumar Ammaan, joined GAS after they were axed for backing Mugilan.

Meanwhile, Mugilan said the “victory” (Samy Vellu's exit) did not belong to GAS alone, but also the Indian community.

He also revaled that GAS would organise a dinner to “celebrate” Samy Vellu's retirement.

Leave the assets alone

Kumar, who also expressed joy over the latest development, however cautioned the outgoing president about MIC's assets.

“Samy Vellu should leave party assets such as MIED (Maju Institute Of Education Development) with MIC as it belongs to the party,” he said.

In May, Samy Vellu had claimed that MIED was not part of MIC, drawing flak from GAS coordinators that produced documents signed in 1983 by then prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad proving otherwise.

Kumar said if Samy Vellu kept his word about stepping down in January, it would provide a boost for Barisan Nasional in terms of winning back Indian support.

“In addition, I believe Palanivel will be able to take MIC to greater heights as he has enough experience and capabilities to do so,” he added.

Blow for Samy Vellu as MIED case proceeds

By Baradan Kuppusamy

September 07, 2010

Samy Vellu will now be required to address charges of graft and mismanagement in relation to the MIED. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was dealt a blow after the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal against a derivative action suit filed by Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED) member and former Youth chief S. Vigneswaran.

Samy Vellu must now answer all the allegations laid against him by his detractors, who have lodged numerous police reports alleging corruption and mismanagement in the scandalised MIED running into the hundreds of millions of ringgit.

Former ally and MIED CEO P. Chitrakalas Vasu has already been charged with misappropriating RM4 million from the institution, but critics like Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) leader and sacked MIC member V. Mugilan have demanded investigations be extended to include Samy Vellu and all his actions in relation to MIED.

“I believe the upcoming court hearing will expose Samy Vellu for good,” Mugilan told The Malaysian Insider.

On Monday, the Court of Appeal unanimously held that the action was valid and may proceed as applied for in the High Court.

On June 14, Judicial Commissioner Mah Weng Kwai ruled that Vigneswaran had a case against Samy Vellu and the trustees of the MIED — most of whom are seen to be Samy Vellu loyalists who once held senior positions in the MIC.

Derivative action under Section 181A of the Companies Act is unique as it allows a stakeholder to hold principle office bearers, trustees and employees accountable for the losses the company might have suffered as a result of their actions or omissions in protecting the interests of the corporation.

On Monday, the Court of Appeal panel comprising Datuk Zainun Ali, Datuk Ramly Ali and Datuk Jeffrey Tan Kok Hwa, said Section 181A of the Companies Act was applicable to all categories of companies.

“We find no reason to interfere with the findings of the High Court,” Zainun said in dismissing an appeal by Samy Vellu, the MIED chairman, and the MIED trustees.

Politically, the rejection is a significant blow for MIC president who is fighting internal and external pressure to step down by December 31 at the latest.

“It is like a fishbone in his throat,” said a senior MIC leader referring to the potential exposure if the MIED case proceeds in the High Court.

Case management has been set for September 25.

“It’s more like a dagger pointed at his heart,” said another MIC leader. “The Pandora’s box would explode open with this action against the MIED.”

While the MIED was incorporated as a company, it has raised funds from the Indian public for its various projects — including the flagship AIMST University in Kedah.

The government also gave RM300 million for the university project.

In the derivative action, the MIED is the plaintiff and is seeking an order that Samy Vellu be stripped of his rights as a signatory to MIED cheques with immediate effect and for an injunction to stop him from continuing to serve as chairman and member of the board of trustees.

If the action is successful, it would severely dent Samy Vellu’s ambitions of continuing as MIC president. He has said he will resign sometime in September 2011 although his current term ends in March 2012.

It is widely expected that he plans to hold an early presidential election sometime in mid-2011, and allow a free and open contest that would likely see a three- or even four-way contest between deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel, senior vice-president Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, former deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam and former vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan.

Freeze permit for Samy's paper, ministry urged

MON, 30 AUG 2010 18:18

By G Vinod

KUALA LUMPUR: The Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) movement has urged the Home Ministry to freeze Tamil Nesan's publishing permit. GAS coordinator KP Samy said action must be taken against the daily, owned by MIC president S

Samy Vellu's family, over a Sunday article which attacked journalists.

He said the daily's chief editor A Veerasamy, who uses the pen name Tamil Mani, had labelled all journalists as frauds with no honour in his column.

“I was shocked that he even called for journalists to be skinned alive. This is a threat against journalists,” he told a press conference here.

KP Samy said GAS had sent a letter to the Home Ministry's office this morning regarding the matter.

The sacked MIC leader criticised the newspaper for degrading the Tamil language and not adhering to journalistic ethics.

“We all know Tamil Nesan belongs to Samy Vellu and his son Vel Paari. Samy Vellu has been going around claiming to be the protector of Tamil in this country. Is this how he protects the language, by allowing his chief editor to write such articles?” he asked.

“Both of them (Samy Vellu and Vel Paari) should do the right thing and sack Tamil Mani for his foul writing,” he said, adding that it was not the first time.

“It has been happening for six months. I am sure Samy Vellu and his son are aware of it,” he said.

KP Samy said if the ministry did not act within the next three days, GAS would submit a memorandum.

GAS to ratchet up pressure to get Samy removed

THU, 02 SEP 2010 15:05

By G Vinod

PETALING JAYA: Coordinators of Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) reiterated their threat to converge in front of MIC president S Samy Vellu's house if the long serving party chief does not vacate his post by year's end as promised.

Sacked party central working committee member G Kumar Aamaan, one of the movement's coordinators, said if Samy Vellu does not step down by December, GAS would hold a gathering in front of the MIC chief's residence in Jalan Ipoh in a bid to force him to vacate the post he has held since 1979.

“We will hold a silent gathering at his place. We also plan to send a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong over the matter,” Kumar Aamaan told FMT.

The movement is also peeved at Samy Vellu's statement yesterday that he will not be stepping down come December. He did not state when he intended to leave the post.

Earlier reports quoting sources, revealed Samy Vellu had been telling his inner-circle that he “will not be around after December”, raising prospects that the party veteran may step down sooner than his proposed September or October 2011 deadline he had set for himself.

His statement yesterday effectively poured cold water on his December 2010 departure date.

Samy can't be trusted

Kumar Aamaan said this was why party members should not trust Samy Vellu's words and why GAS came into being in the first place.

“Some quarters told us off saying since Samy had already announced his retirement plans, why antagonise him further. Now they will know why we did what we did,” he said.

Another GAS coordinator, V Mugilan, said this had been Samy Vellu's way of doing things which was "promising one thing and backtracking later on".

“This is the real Samy Vellu, the one who loves to break his own promises,” said Mugilan, who was sacked from his position as the MIC deputy youth chief for urging Samy Vellu to retire.

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.”