Politics and slippers

By Tay Tian Yan (Sin Chew Daily)

I couldn't help but feel sympathetic for Samy Vellu having to take the endless bashings.

Dear Samy, it's real sad to see that the lifelong loyalty you have shown is reciprocated with such a pathetic treatment!

It should be that delegate named Sukumaran who should take the blame for offending the good old Mahathir instead of hitting out at Anwar Ibrahim, Karpal Singh or M Kayveas in the MIC general assembly.

Sukumaran might have acted out of sheer loyalty towards Samy after seeing that Mahathir openly called for Samy to step down and supported Samy's archrival Subramaniam, which could have prompted him to suggest putting a "garland of slippers" around Mahathir's picture.

When Mahathir was at his prime, MIC members rushed to put a garland around his neck.

But what about the "garland of slippers"? Perhaps Sukumaran got the inspiration from the shoe missile aimed at former US president George W Bush in Iraq!

Samy is no muddlehead. He instantly told Sukumaran to shut up the moment he had made this proposal.

But it came a bit too late!

The following day, UMNO leaders relentlessly blasted out at MIC and Samy Vellu, Utusan Malaysia particularly ferocious in its gunpowder.

Well aware of his deficiency in the face of such merciless blasts, Samy not only suspended Sukumaran's membership, but also apologised repeatedly in a bid to cool off the heat.

But with his declining stature today, Samy's apologies do not seem to make things any better.

Even though he is still unparallelled within MIC, outside the party he has come under heavy fire to step down.

Even prime minister Najib has voice up to discuss Samy's retirement plans.

Samy's experiences provide us with three kinds of lessons:

1. Slippers are to be put on our feet, not to be hung, or made into a garland.

2. We need to replace the slippers if they are too old; or we will stumble ourselves.

3. We cannot live on slippers. Political parties and politicians alike must really make a good showing.