“I just advised him to take care. That was the maximum I could say,” he said, adding that such threats were commonly received by those in politics or those who become elected representatives.
Samy Vellu said that he, too, received 10 to 15 such calls a day from people making all sorts of accusations and threats.
“This time, things got out of hand. Now, there are all sorts of accusations and the people's minds have been poisoned.
“People think we are not needed anymore. Such cases can happen in future as the people hate us,” he said, referring to the killing of the assemblyman.
However, Samy Vellu added that they (MIC politicians) would not be able to do their job if they lived in fear.
“I meet 750 people each week. If the gunman comes, even I can be shot,” he said, adding that that all MIC assemblymen and MPs have been told to be extra cautious.
“We also appeal to the Inspector-General of Police to investigate this case thoroughly as the previous murder of Lunas assemblyman Joe Fernandez in 2000 has yet to be solved,” he said.
“Besides that, several other murders have also happened in Penang.”
Samy Vellu said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had contacted him yesterday to assure him that the police were tracking down the suspect.
Samy Vellu, who arrived at Krishnasamy's house at 11.15am, said that Abdullah also conveyed his condolences to the family.
He called for security at all MIC offices nationwide would be beefed up.
“I have told the Johor MIC leader to employ a new security guard and not to just allow everybody into the building,” he said, adding that he was surprised that the guard, stationed at the building, was not present at the time of the shooting.
Asked how Krishnasamy's death would affect MIC's performance in the area in the coming elections, he replied: “I do not want to talk about the elections now.”
On Krishnasamy's contributions, Samy Vellu said that he had showed a lot of interest in wanting to help the people in Johor.
“Each week, at least once, he brings people to see me for help,” he said, adding that he last spoke to Krishnasamy on Friday morning as Krishnasamy had wanted to meet with him next week.
Segamat MP Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam appealed to the police to investigate and bring the killer to book.
“MIC has lost a good leader and I have lost a good friend,” he said.
State PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed, who led a delegation of about 30 people to the house, said that this was a new phenomenon, which needed to be checked.
“The police need to do something about such cases, including providing additional security to politicians,” he said, adding that people had the right to live in peace.
Dr Mahfodz also conveyed his condolences to the family.
