Party unity is paramount, says Samy

KUALA LUMPUR: "Maintain party unity and stability" would be MIC president S Samy Vellu's parting words to the party's powerful Central Working Committee members at their meeting on Dec 6.

Samy Vellu, who is expected to hand over the party's leadership to his deputy G Palanivel soon after the CWC meeting, said he would stress on the need for the party to maintain an effective leadership and preserve unity to ensure MIC's survival.

"I want them to maintain a strong working relationship so that the party can function effectively," he said when interviewed by RTM's Minnal FM Tamil radio station.

Samy Vellu, who became party chief in 1979, announced that he would chair his last CWC meeting on Dec 6. He also said that he would urge party members to give their full backing to Palanivel.

The former works minister described Palanivel, his former press secretary, as "a dedicated and pious person."

"He may not be as tough as me in running the party, but he can be tough at times. I believe he can do the job and I want all members to give him their support," he said.

Samy Vellu said unity must be maintained by all quarters in the party to ensure MIC continued to represent the Indian community and deliver the votes to Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

Observers said Samy Vellu's remarks could be taken as cautioning party leaders from engaging in a power tussle, especially in the run-up to the MIC election in 2012.

Although Samy Vellu had refused to accept the post of party advisor after handing over the presidency to Palanivel as suggested by certain MIC leaders, it is believed that he would closely monitor the situation.

Samy to "move in" if there is trouble

According to an aide, Samy Vellu would "move in" should there be a power tussle or attempt to destabilise the MIC.

"Samy Vellu would still command the respect and support of a sizable number of (MIC) branch and divisional chairmen, and in the 2012 party elections, he could still call the shots," the aide said.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Star published today, the MIC supremo also named Human Resources Minister and MIC vice-president Dr S Subramaniam as the party's acting deputy president following his retirement.

His departure from active politics would also herald a new chapter in the party's leadership succession. Observers said while all might look calm on the outside, a storm was brewing internally.

Several party political analysts said the outgoing president would "eventually return" to seal the fate of a few political leaders, when the MIC holds its party elections in 2012.

"This is because we do not know if the former deputy president S Subramaniam will contest the president's post. If this happens then Samy Vellu will throw his backing for Palanivel.

"We also do not know if Dr Subramaniam will be contented in remaining as a deputy in two years time. This is because he is a minister while his party boss is just a deputy minister. He may also want to try his luck," an insider, who did not want to be named, told FMT.

It is an open secret that Samy Vellu still had the ears and support of more than 750 out of the 1,400 delegates who would cast the ballots to pick national leaders, from deputy president downwards.

The post of president would be decided by grassroots leaders from some 4,300 MIC branches nationwide. Since the party made its constitutional amendment to this effect, the post of president had not been challenged.

If murmurs on the ground was anything to go by, Dr Subramaniam might just stake his claim for the presidency in two years time and Samy Vellu throwing his support for the minister cannot be discounted.

"But this can be thwarted if Palanivel is appointed minister. Then he will have the same machinery as Dr Subramanim. That will stop him from trying to fight Palanivel, who is a more senior and experienced man," said an observer.

Another dark horse looming is S Sothinathan, the former secretary-general and vice-president. Sothinathan fell out of favour with Samy Vellu when he defied the party supremo's orders not to contest the deputy presidency against Palanivel at the party elections last year.

Although Sothinathan lost his bid, he is back in favour with Samy Vellu. He might also want to contest the deputy presidency in 2012. This would again complicate matters in the party.

Although Samy Vellu had said that party unity was of paramount importance, there was no guarantee that the united front put-up by these leaders would prevail in 2012.