Apr 23 2007
SV and Pandithan - NST
They are friends again
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/20070423081237/Article/index_html
BATANG BERJUNTAI: After 20 years of enmity, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Datuk M.G. Pandithan finally made their peace here yesterday.
The leaders of MIC and Indian Progressive Front (IPF) appeared together on stage as friends to campaign for the Barisan Nasional in the Ijok by-election.
The frail-looking Pandithan said he wanted to bury the hatchet, admitting that despite their differences, both parties had a common goal to help the Indian community.
“Enough is enough. No more animosity with MIC. We want to work together, not only for this by-election but also beyond this,” he said at a gathering of BN component leaders.
Pandithan, 67, was diagnosed with cancer last year. His party is not a member of BN although IPF has been campaigning to be admitted into the coalition for many years.
Pandithan and Samy Vellu last met on stage in 1999 during the Teluk Kemang by-election in Negri Sembilan.
Although both were campaigning for the BN, they were political adversaries.
Samy Vellu said he was touched by Pandithan’s efforts to campaign in Ijok although he was sick.
“It’s an emotional time for me. I’m welcoming back a friend. Two hearts have become one,” he said.
The bad blood between Samy Vellu and Pandithan began in 1988 when the former MIC vice-president was issued a show-cause letter for allegedly practising caste-oriented politics.
On June 4 the same year, Pandithan started a hunger strike in front of the MIC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, bringing along a coffin to signify that democracy was dead in the party.
This led to Pandithan’s expulsion from the party on July 16, 1988, together with 13 of his supporters. In August 1990, Pandithan formed IPF.
IPF’s application to join the BN has been rejected a few times, opposed by MIC.
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