THEIR break-up was not as legendary or heartbreaking as Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s sacking of Anwar Ibrahim but the story of strained ties between the former prime minister and S. Samy Vellu is currently making the rounds on social media.

A six-year-old video clip starts with the former MIC strongman speaking to a New Straits Times reporter and praising Dr Mahathir for modernising Malaysia. Dr Mahathir was prime minister from 1981 to 2003.

The video clip is among several circulating among supporters of both Pakatan Harapan led by Dr Mahathir and the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) led by caretaker prime minister Najib Razak.

“All this modernisation, I always say Malaysia modernised by Mahathir… M M M,” he said with a smile.

Samy Vellu, now 82, was the MIC president from 1979 to 2010. He lost the Sungai Siput seat in 2008. He had held the seat for eight terms since 1974.

In the video clip, Samy Vallu explained ties between him and Dr Mahathir became strained due to his objection to Dr Mahathir’s attempt to have Indian Progressive Front (IPF) join BN in 1994.

“You see, there are reasons he (Dr Mahathir) felt hurt. I’ll tell you now. The people also must know. He was close to me. Why was he hurt? He wanted to bring IPF (M.G.) Pandithan’s party into Barisan. Everybody agreed, I said no.

Despite that, Samy Vellu said he wished Dr Mahathir well.

“He is a great man. Great, great, great man. I don’t think we will have one like him (he chokes up and reaches for a tissue). Great planner, great implementor, great thinker. I never said one word against him.”

Dr Mahathir, 92, is contesting the Langkawi federal seat for Pakatan Harapan, which has had six candidates disqualified for various reasons on the nomination day on Saturday. Polling day is May 9. – April 30, 2018.