Photo of gun-toting Saravanan circulated

 Odin: Deputy Youth and Sports Minister M Saravanan, I may be wrong, but I believe the proper way for civilians (those with licence) to carry their handgun is to have it in their shoulder holster and the holster kept concealed by buttoning up their jacket.

Tucking it into their waistband is not the done thing; while this may be acceptable for law enforcement personnel in plain clothes or secret service agents to do that.

Secondly, I also believe it is highly inadvisable to leave your handgun in your car.

Aries46: It is a disgrace to the MIC, its members and the Indian community that its vice-president and MP and deputy minister needs to carry a gun to hold a press conference in the party’s HQ.

Does this mean that MIC officials are under constant threat from gangsters and criminals? It may also mean that Saravanan has deliberately tucked the gun into his pants in an exposed manner possibly as a show of force and to intimidate his detractors.

There has been some comments in online portals about Saravanan’s alleged connections with the underworld and this act of slinging his gun seem to add fodder to such claims.

The fact that an MP representing one of the poorest communities needs to carry an exposed gun in the course of conducting his party affairs reflects badly on the Indian community as a whole.

President G Palanivel must clarify whether this is the trend and SOP (standard operating procedure) for MIC executive officials in the course of conducting their affairs and if so, who are these enemies that pose a threat to the life of his men.

Krissman: In Bolehland, anything is possible as long as you are on the side of the BN. This is the first time ever an elected figure is seen with a gun in a public place with a big commotion going on.

Negarawan: Indian youth involvement in hardcore crime is on the increase. Saravanan’s behaviour sets an extremely bad example for them to follow.

What was his intention and motivation to wield a handgun at the MIC headquarters? Was it for self-defence? There’s no need for that, as he could have called in the police if he had wanted to.

Or was it to intimidate his enemies? More likely the case.

Did the PDRM perform any ballistic test on his gun before, in the course of investigations into certain cases? On what basis did the PDRM grant him a licence? The PDRM owes the public an explanation.

Sin Lee Huang: For a politician to bring a weapon to an already tense situation is for two things: to intimidate others or he has no confidence in the police to protect everyone.

Anonymous_1421406986: Perhaps the deputy minister was overcome by fear when confronting those gangsters, and it very likely he may have deliberately or purposefully exposed the weapon for others to see for his own security.

Yet it was not the right place to expose the weapon. He has damaged the issue further by saying that he usually keeps the weapon in the car. Now, he has invited an even bigger problem for himself.

Saravanan deserves an invite by the police.

Anonymous #50815906: I feel sad that at this time when the majority of the Indian community (Hindus) are busy preparing for Thaipusam, which is supposed to be holy and peaceful, we are talking about YB Saravanan’s gun.

It is normal for MPs and ministers to be issued with pistols for self-protection. MIC, which is to handle the PM’s visit to Batu Caves during Thaipusam every year, is now embroiled in its own problems and consequently the spirit of Thaipusam is forgotten.

Of course, the BN is much concerned and wants to help settle the issue for the benefit of the Indian community.

Grey Matter: The contest for Tapah parliamentary seat in 2013 saw the campaign manager of the opposition candidate bound,murdered and thrown in a lake.

Further, when the situation was not in his favour during the vote count, Saravanan allegedly chased the opposition candidate/witnesses out of the ballot centre by throwing a chair at them. The police did nothing.

After the incident, BN was declared the winner and managed to hold on to the two state seats under Tapah. If not, Perak would have narrowly gone to Pakatan Rakyat.

This is why BN needs these goons.

SRMan: Saravanan claimed that, “But on that day, it was in the holster and I believe that during the commotion, my coat moved a little, exposing the gun’s grip.”

Hello cowboy Saravanan, on observing the picture, there was no scuffling at all and your coat did not move.

Your exposure of the weapon looks more like an intentional one. I suggest you better ride a horse into the MIC headquarters next time.

FellowMalaysian: Just be careful with where the gun is pointing. If that gun goes off accidentally, Saravanan would have wished he hadn’t got one tucked under his belt.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakinisubscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakinisubscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.