Samy Vellu ready to quit, but...

“I am ready to go, I am ready to pass the leadership to Palanivel.” — file pic

PETALING JAYA, Sept 22 — Taking hints from an impatient Umno, veteran MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu is prepared to quit immediately but only if his anointed successor and deputy Datuk G. Palanivel is ready to assume the party leadership.

“I am ready to let go (of the position). I am ready to 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,” the former works minister told MStar Online yesterday.

His comments came after Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said he would discuss the party succession issue with Samy Vellu, who has held power since 1979.

The Indian leader has had run-ins with Umno since losing in Election 2008, with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad calling him a liability to the ruling Barisan Nasional.

However, Samy Vellu added a caveat by mimicking Dr Mahathir’s excuse of wanting to leave behind a party that is united and without problems.

“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 (for the party and community),” he added.

Samy Vellu, who became acting president in 1979 before being elected as MIC president in 1981, was re-elected for his 11th consecutive term in April.

He said he would discuss the issue with Palanivel after the latter returns from India. “I will meet him to discuss this... to ask if he is ready to take over as president. And if he is, I will hand it over to him,” he added.

Samy Vellu claims he will quit if Palanivel (right) is ready to take over. — file pic

Palanivel successfully defended his deputy president’s post in the recent party elections on Sept 12. He, too, lost in Election 2008.

But Samy Vellu reiterated that the party would face many problems if he were to step down now.

“There are many things that need to be settled. I have many things to do. I want to ensure that they are all resolved and the party is in good shape before handing it over to my successor,” he said.

The MIC leader added that the top leadership line-up was still fresh although they had been old faces in the party. “They are old faces in the party (as members), but they are a new leadership line-up which had just been elected,” he said.

Samy Vellu also said he had agreed to meet Najib soon to discuss MIC’s leadership succession.

Asked if he would stick to his earlier plan to step down when his term expires in 2012, he said: “I don’t want to say anything about it. I want to let the issue die down.”