Samy Vellu interview stokes up emotions in MIC

KUALA LUMPUR: It was vintage Datuk Seri Samy Vellu. Except this time around, he was not condemning and fighting leaders he deems as his political “enemies” within the MIC but his own annointed successor as the party’s president.

Supporters of Datuk Seri G. Palanivel are up in arms over an interview he gave to Sunday Star which they claim is a scathing attack on Palanivel whom Samy Vellu personally groomed for over 20 years until he took over the party’s helm in 2010 when the veteran politician finally quit after 30 years as president.

It was Samy Vellu’s no-holds-barred remarks that riled up Palanivel’s supporters with some asking:” After riding rough shot over the party with an iron-fist for three decades, he should now play the role of an elder statesman”.

Among other things in the interview, he lambasted Palanivel as well as regretted fighting his former deputy Tan Sri S. Subramaniam.

 “I brought a man from nowhere. I built him; I gave him courage, I made him a deputy because at that time we were fighting with Subramaniam.

 “Now I realise there was no reason for the fight ( with Subramaniam). I presented him (Palanivel) to the whole country wherever I went. I did all the work and promoted him. He became president. From the day he took over as president, I have nothing to do with MIC. He doesn’t talk to me much or call me”.

And answering a question, Samy Vellu said he does not call Palanivel because he now is an ordinary man.

He rubbed in further by saying: “ How can I call such a big man?”.

Palanivel has thus far declined to comment on the issue but party insiders have indicated he was very upset over this “most unkind cut” from his former boss.

They cited last week’s by-election in Teluk Intan where Palanivel went to the ground for 13 days mobilising the Indian votes and which resulted in the Barisan Nasional wresting the Parliamentary seat from the DAP.

Both Samy Vellu and Palanivel lost their Parliamentary seats in the party’s crushing defeat in the 2008 general election.

 “He should not be condemning a party president,” said a senior MIC official.

Since Palanivel took over, many members and leaders who left MIC out of protest against Samy Vellu’s leadership had rejoined the party, claimed the official.

Palanivel’s supporters reportedly want Samy Vellu to stop meddling in MIC business and focus on his new job as business envoy to South Asia. - Bernama