Malaysian PM launches Malay Indian Vellu's 'tell-all' biography

Kuala Lumpur, Dec 12 (ANI): Malaysian Prime Minister has launched a "tell-all" biography of former Malasian Indian Congress (MIC) president Samy Vellu, in which he reveals how he tried in vain to stop the demolition of the Hindu Sri Maha Mariamman temple in 2007 that ultimately generated a revolt against the party.

"That incident paved the way for an uprising of the Indian community," the author said in the book, referring to the now banned Hindraf movement, which some political observers believe had led to many Indians voting against the Barisan Nasional in the 2008 general election.

According to The Star, "A Life. A Legend. A Legacy" written by award-winning author Bernice Narayanan reveals Samy Vellu's greatest achievements and setbacks as well as "behind-the-scenes" events in his almost 50 years of active politics.

The 200-page book traces the remarkable life journey of Vellu, who rose through the years from being a rubber tapper's son, an ice cream seller and, later, a bus conductor, to becoming Malaysia's longest serving Cabinet minister until his election defeat in 2008.

The author in the concluding paragraphs of the book writes: "Samy Vellu is MIC and MIC is Samy Vellu. There's no running away from this."

"He has no hidden agenda, no cloak-and-dagger political manoeuvres and certainly no masquerades. His life is an open book. This is the book," he added.

Speaking at the occasion, Vellu said he was proud of achieving what he had set out to do when he took over the MIC leadership from the late Tan Sri V.Manickavasagam in 1979. (ANI)