Samy slams outsiders for interference, says only delegates can decide

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KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has urged outsiders not to interfere in the affairs of the party.

“Nobody has the right to decide who the president of the MIC should be. That right belongs to the delegates,” he said.

Samy Vellu, 73, said that even in Barisan Nasional, there was an understanding that a component party would take care of its own affairs, without interference from other component parties.

He was expressing unhappiness over what he said were external forces trying to impose their views to influence MIC’s election process.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in an interview published in Makkal Osai, had said Samy Vellu should step down because he had stayed too long, and endorsed former deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam.

A newspaper also front-paged a report against Samy Vellu yesterday.

“This is being purposely done to influence the MIC elections. This is unethical,” Samy Vellu said.

His endorsed candidate for the deputy president’s post, incumbent Datuk G. Palanivel, is being challenged by Subramaniam and vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan.

Samy Vellu said Subramaniam had brought disgrace to the MIC by seeking the endorsement of outsiders to shore up his support.

“He should retire from politics because he is of no use to anyone. I am still relevant as I have several things to do and will retire by 2012 as promised,” he said.

On calls by Subramaniam to keep to his promise to step down after the deputy president was elected, Samy Vellu said: “He (Subramaniam) cannot dictate anything to me. He is just an ordinary MIC division chairman.”

He said he was confident of the support of the 1,464 delegates for Palanivel, based on his own assessment as well as feedback from the ground.

“Palanivel scored a thumping win over Subramaniam three years ago and stands a better chance because of his contact with the people. He works from 7.30am to midnight and has seen practically all the delegates,” he said.

Samy Vellu said the formation of new Indian-based parties would not pose a problem for the MIC as they did not have the structure and ability to fight for the legitimate rights of the community.

He also said there was a need for specific development programmes to enable the Indians to catch up with the other races in the country.

“Indians are lagging behind and by the time we reach a certain level, the other races will be far ahead and we have to do the chasing,” he said.