Mohan said neither he nor the party condoned the “garland of slippers” suggested by Peter Sugumaran of the MIC Paya Besar division in Pahang.

However, the Youth wing feels the former prime minister should not have interfered in the internal affairs of the MIC, he said.

“Much as both the party and I hold Dr Mahathir in high esteem, action should be taken against him by Umno for interfering in the affairs of the MIC.”

Mohan said Dr Mahathir should not have hit out against party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu when a tight fight for the MIC positions was around the corner.

He said statements made by the influential Dr Mahathir were uncalled for and had upset members who viewed them as a move to oust Samy Vellu.

He said it was not the first time during precarious moments that Dr Mahathir had done so. “MIC members have not forgotten Dr Mahathir’s statement just two days before the 2008 general election when he condemned the party president for not having done anything for the Indian community.

“Although the MIC candidates lost in most of the constituencies, the MIC members tolerated and refrained from making any counter-attack on Dr Mahathir for his accusations.”

Mohan was elaborating on his statement to Samy Vellu-owned Tamil Nesan daily yesterday. He said while he had discouraged the suspended delegate, Peter Sugumaran, from making the proposal during his speech on the presidential debate on Sunday, MIC delegates had the right to criticise Dr Mahathir or anyone who intervened in “our internal matters”.

Dr Mahathir had given his views on the MIC, Samy Vellu and endorsed Datuk S. Subramaniam as the deputy president of the party and the one to regain Indian support for the Barisan Nasional.

This angered several MIC members who rushed to the defence of Samy Vellu, including Sugumaran who mentioned in his speech on the presidential debate that a garland of slippers be placed on the portrait of Dr Mahathir at PWTC, home of Umno.

Umno leaders hit back, describing the “garland of slippers” suggestion as rude, excessive and extreme.
Samy Vellu first criticised the former premier for interfering in internal party matters, but said that he had been against the garland suggestion and would take disciplinary action against the delegate.

Asked if the MIC would issue a personal apology to Dr Mahathir as Umno leaders have taken umbrage over the remark and have demanded a personal apology from Samy Vellu, Mohan said: “It’s up to the individual to apologise.”

He said he hoped the storm would blow over despite the conflicts over comments made by other MIC leaders responding to the demand for a personal apology.

Asked if his comments would worsen the situation, Mohan said: "We have to stand our ground. We can’t keep quiet just because he was the former prime minister.”