KUALA LUMPUR: MIC treasurer-general Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's use of a derogatory word to describe Malaysian Indians was proof of the former prime minister’s disdain for the community.
Vell Paari said everyone knows that the word used was derogatory for the Indian community.
“But why I am not surprised with Tun Dr Mahathir using this word? Being a blackhearted racist is the innate nature of Dr Mahathir.
"Over and over during and after his premiership he has always demonstrated that he has no respect for the Indian community in this country,” said Vell Paari in a statement today.
He said DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang was right in saying that Tun Dr Mahathir was a liar, racist and the greatest enemy of Malaysia.
He added that Dr Mahathir also did the same in 2016 and was taken to task by Hindraf leader P. Waythamoorthy for using the derogatory term when referring to Malaysian Indians.
Vell Paari said that Dr Mahathir, in his 22 years as prime minister, has always treated Malaysian Indians as third class citizens of the country.
“It is only under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak that the community is seeing progress.
"Thus I call upon my Indian brothers and sisters to continue giving Barisan Nasional the mandate to protect, safeguard and improve the wellbeing and progress of the Indian community in this country.
“Never allow this blackhearted racist Tun Dr Mahathir back into power,” said Vell Paari, who compared Dr Mahathir’s innate nature to that of a snake.