"Do not to think about what happened in the past, but look forward to the future."
This is the message of former MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to the Hindus celebrating the Festival of Lights.
In the spirit of Deepavali, the 78-year-old politician expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian government for its tireless effort in ensuring and maintaining national peace and security.
The writer with Samy Vellu during the interview recently. - Photo Astro AWANI/Suganthi Suparmaniam
"Malaysia is a good country. People are united so well, and indication of the maturity (that we achieve) after independence."The leadership of the country is strong and it looks after all the communities in the country. If this continues, we will have a very peaceful country, our development and future will be guaranteed by the government," he said during an interview with Astro AWANI recently.
The Former Works Minister fondly said that every year his family members and relatives would gather at his house to perform the customary prayers on the first day of Deepavali.
"After prayers, we will serve food to everybody. I give ang pow to the children and sarees to the older ladies, which I select myself from shops," he said.
Samy Vellu said his favourite traditional delicacy during Deepavali is thengai paal appam, a type of rice pancake eaten with sweetened coconut milk.
"I love appam very much ... but my doctor has advised not to take it all the time (as) it is not good. So, I stopped taking appam. If I go to Ipoh, there is a shop, not a big shop (located) by the roadside. The appam is so good, so, I (will) buy three but I can only eat one-and-a half or two," he said.
As for the most famous Deepavali must-have food item such as the murukku, Samy Vellu said he normally orders, at least 100 jars of the crunchy snackr from a lady in Ipoh.
"Last time, we used to fry the murukku. Nowadays, you can buy it. And, I will send the murukku I buy from this lady to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister's homes," he said.
Speaking of the Hindu customs, Samy Vellu firmly said that taking the compulsory oil bath (before sunrise) on the day of Deepavali, is a tradition that should not be forgotten by the Hindus.
"Those days, our parents will pour oil onto our heads. Now, we take (only) two or three drops (of oil) and apply it on our heads.
"It is a tradition to indicate that you have cleansed yourself, a tradition that every Hindus must remember and understand," he added.
