SO, just to clarify: An MIC member wants a garland of slippers to be placed on the portrait of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the PWTC.

Outright rude, but to be sure, the party would never do it.

However, the MIC’s response to this uncouth proposal has been tepid at best, although it has outraged citizens across the country.

Instead of the party and the rogue delegate apologising immediately to Dr Mahathir, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has merely promised action.

The soon-to-be formed MIC’s disciplinary committee will be very busy with defeated deputy presidential candidate Datuk S. Subramaniam’s indiscipline charges top of the list.

Shouldn’t the “garland of slippers” issue take priority? Because:

Lawyers said the authorities should investigate the “garland of slippers” incident under the Criminal Procedure Code which provides for intentional insult to provoke breach of peace.

“This is a case of grave provocation,” said J.A. Azman.

“In instances like this, shouldn’t an apology be made immediately?” asked Indian political analyst Dr Ravindran Savrimuthu.

“It’s about respect and decorum in the BN.”  Ravindran said the suggestion by the delegate smacked of mindless gabby ignorance and emotional incontinence and “delaying an apology could trigger more anger within the MIC and BN component parties”.

Several MIC stalwarts, speaking to Malay Mail, noted that while certain MIC politicians held themselves up as exemplars of moral rectitude, they tended to be pompous and oversimplified complex problems.

They said they felt humiliated that the delegate chose to insult Dr Mahathir, prime minister for 22 years, at the PWTC, home of Umno.

Dr Mahathir was quoted by Tamil daily Makkal Osai that Samy Vellu had done nothing for the well-being of the Indian community in this country.

He had given his views on the MIC, Samy Vellu and the decision of former MIC deputy president Subramaniam to contest the post of deputy president at the MIC general assembly held on Saturday and Sunday, which had angered several MIC members.

Umno leaders have described such a “garland of slippers” suggestion as rude, excessive and extreme.
Led by vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, they said MIC members must show that they respected others,  respected leaders and were individuals who valued culture and tradition.

The leaders said appropriate action must be taken to uphold decorum in BN.

Kedah Umno said there were many other ways to express one’s displeasure and the suggestion reflected that the Indian community in the country did not appreciate Dr Mahathir’s contributions.

Ravindran said a garland of slippers, “if ever there was one”, was similar to slipper or shoe throwing.

He said a garland of slippers is viewed in all cultures as an insult.

“Frustrations and anger could be displayed in various ways and any demeaning act associated with footwear goes against all cultures.”

Ravindran said such acts were usually associated with hate and anger.

He said: “We should learn to respect everybody as a human and not manifest our political dislikes through such actions.”

In many cultures around the world, if you want to escalate a situation, the word “shoe or slipper” adds serious insult that can cause grave provocation, Ravindran said.

He said it’s that cultural significance that added real sting to the “garland of slippers” incident.