EXPLAINING OR PRETENDING?

Krishnasamy told Samy Vellu about them two weeks ago

SEGAMAT: Slain Tenggaroh state assemblyman Datuk S. Krishnasamy had received death threats weeks before he was murdered but had not taken them seriously.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Krishnasamy had told him about the threats before he left for India two weeks ago.

“I just advised him to take care. That was the most I could say,” he said, adding that such threats were not unusual in politics. However, he could not confirm if the threats were linked to politics or business.

Samy Vellu said that he, too, received 10 to 15 such calls a day from people making all sorts of accusations and threats.

“This time, things got out of hand. Now, there are all sorts of accusations and the people’s minds have been poisoned. There are a lot of problems created by people in the Indian community and this is through instigation.

“People think we are not needed anymore,” he said.

However, Samy Vellu added that MIC leaders would not be able to do their work if they lived in fear.

“I meet 750 people each week. If a gunman comes, even I can be shot,” he said, adding that all MIC assemblymen and MPs have been told to be extra cautious.

“We also appeal to the Inspector-General of Police to investigate this case thoroughly as the previous murder of Lunas assemblyman Joe Fernandez in 2000 has yet to be solved,” he said.

“Besides that, several other murders have also taken place in Penang.”

Samy Vellu said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had contacted him yesterday to assure him that the police were tracking down the suspect.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the police would record Samy Vellu’s statement as part of investigations into Krishnasamy’s murder.

“We will ask Samy Vellu because we would like to know more about these death threats,” he told pressmen after a two-hour meeting at the state police headquarters yesterday.

Samy Vellu also said that security at all MIC offices nationwide would be beefed up.

“I have told the Johor MIC leader to employ a new security guard and not to just allow everybody into the building,” he said, adding that he was surprised that the guard stationed at the building was not present at the time of the shooting.

Asked how Krishnasamy’s death would affect MIC’s performance in the area in the coming elections, he replied: “I do not want to talk about the elections now.”

Samy Vellu, who arrived at Krishnasamy’s house here at 11.15am, said Abdullah also conveyed his condolences to the family.

Segamat MP Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam appealed to the police to bring the killer to book.

State PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed, who led a delegation of about 30 to convey their condolences to the family, said this was a new phenomenon which the police could help check by providing additional security to politicians.