Amid a barrage of calls to step down, including an unmistakable hint from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, MIC president Samy Vellu said he is ready to go “even tomorrow” so long as his deputy is prepared to take over the reins.
“I have no problem. It is not like I want to hold on to this post forever. But there are many things that need to be resolved,” he told the local media.
“I am ready to let go. Monday or even tomorrow if Palanivel feels that he is ready to take over the party leadership. I am ready to pass the leadership to him.
“I will meet him to discuss this.. I will ask if he is ready to take over as president. And if he is, I will hand it over to him.”
Samy, who by now holds the trophy as the longest-serving party leader in the local political scene, was referring to his anointed successor G Palanivel who recently upset the odds by beating two other candidates for the No 2 post.
Despite winning the most votes, Palanivel is seen by members as a leader without his own personality, who will help Samy to remain in the MIC hot-seat.
The former Works Minister became party acting president in 1979 before being elected as MIC chief in 1981.
He was re-elected for his 11th consecutive term in April and has publicly assured that he will step down in 2012, when his term ends.
Not soon enough
But 2012 is not soon enough – not only for his detractors within MIC – but also for the Barisan Nasional coalition of which it is a member.
But 2012 is not soon enough – not only for his detractors within MIC – but also for the Barisan Nasional coalition of which it is a member.
Fractious infighting at the MIC led to a disastrous outing at the 2008 general election, contributing to the BN’s overall depressed performance.
The party only managed to retain three parliamentary seats, with Samy even losing at his long-held bastion.
Unsurprisingly, he was punished by the previous prime minister and BN head Abdullah Badawi, who did not hesitate to drop him from the cabinet.
Now, with the MIC even more split after Palanivel pipped popular contender S Subramaniam for the deputy presidency, Najib – the current BN chief – is getting worried.
Subramaniam is mulling his future and may even leave the MIC for the opposition, possibly taking some 300,000 supporters with him.
"At that time, he told me that he could not step down and if he did, then it would destablise the party. But that was before the party election,” said Najib, referring to a June meeting with Samy."But now after the election, I will discuss with him again but this should not be seen as BN's interference in the internal affairs of the MIC.”
Winning back the Indian community
Former vice-president S Sothinathan, who also contested against Palanivel for the No. 2 post earlier this month, agrees that the BN can only win back the Indian community if the succession issue at the MIC is resolved to the satisfaction of the public.
Former vice-president S Sothinathan, who also contested against Palanivel for the No. 2 post earlier this month, agrees that the BN can only win back the Indian community if the succession issue at the MIC is resolved to the satisfaction of the public.
“It is a good idea for the prime minister to address the issue as he has to look at the perception of the public,” he said.
Meanwhile, Samy and his supporters have hit back at the calls for him to step down, saying that the MIC must be left to decide its destiny.
Said Samy: “I don’t want to say anything about it. I want to let the issue die down”.
Said Cameron Highlands MP SK Devamany: "I support my president and he will lead the party for as long as MIC members want him to lead."
Malaysian Mirror
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