Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad contributed only 1 per cent of what Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has done to the Indian community, said MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

Speaking at the national Ponngal celebration in Shah Alam on Wednesday, Dr Subramaniam said despite being the longest serving prime minister, Dr Mahathir did not measure up to Najib in terms of providing aides to the Indian community.

Speaking against the former premier for the first time, Dr Subramaniam, who is also the Health Minister, said Dr Mahathir has forgotten that the Opposition leaders whom he is being close with now are those who had once labelled him an 'authoritarian'.

"Dr Mahathir made an uneasy move recently when he was willing to be in the same table with people who were his enemies while he was administrating the country, just to topple the Barisan Nasional and Najib. Tun Mahathir seem to have forgotten that the leaders he are with now are the ones who had called him an authoritarian before," Dr Subramaniam said in his speech.

He said, it was also shallow of Dr Mahathir to call the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) as a form of bribery.

Najib, who officiated the event, lauded Dr Subramaniam for speaking boldly against Dr Mahathir, for the first time.

"I thanked Dr Subramaniam for being brave now. No more just hinting," he said.

"He has become a brave leader today. If before this, there were only shadowy talks, now he is openly saying it. This is the kind of change that we want," he added.

Najib also called on MIC leaders to think for the Indian community and not just about their position in the party.