Quit now to save BN, Mugilan tells Samy

By RK Anand - Free Malaysia Today,

PETALING JAYA: MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan has urged party president S Samy Vellu to vacate his post with immediate effect or latest by December this year.
Mugilan told FMT that he was only doing what Samy Vellu had done in the past when the latter asked the then president VT Sambanthan to step down.
“Samy Vellu has no reason to stay on for another year. Does he think he can do what he had failed to do in 30 years within the next year?
“Last year, he said he will leave this year. Next year, he will say that he is leaving when his term expires in 2012. Enough is enough, he should quit now,” he said.
Mugilan was responding to Samy Vellu's statement yesterday that he will resign “eight to nine months” before his presidential term draws to an end.
Continuing his salvo, Mugilan said Sambanthan was president for only 16 years, and had been a successful leader.
Despites this, he said, Samy Vellu had asked him to step down on the grounds that the community needed change.
“But what about Samy Vellu? He has been there for three decades... the party and the Indian community want change. Ninety-nine percent of them want him to go,” he added.
'If Samy is in, BN is out'
Mugilan claimed that if the 74-year-old president remains at the helm, it will spell peril for both MIC and Barisan Nasional.
“I am worried that Umno and BN will look for an alternative Indian party. They are already talking about direct membership and things like that.
“If he stays, one thing is for sure: BN will become the opposition party after the next general election,” he said, adding that Indian votes are precious.
Mugilan believes that if Samy Vellu vacates the top post, BN can win back at least 80% of the Indian votes.
“Samy Vellu is the biggest stumbling block. He is the reason we lost the Indian votes (in the last general election),” he claimed, adding that the majority of Indian youths share the same sentiment.
Asked if his boss, MIC Youth chief T Mohan, agreed with his call, Mugilan replied: “Of course not, he has been getting many benefits from the president. He would never say such a thing.”
'They won't act against me'
Mugilan is also confident that MIC, which he described as a “liberal and democratic” party, will not take action against him over his scathing remarks.
“I am not criticising the party. I am only calling for change. (Deputy Prime Minister) Muhyiddin Yassin told (former premier) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down, (MCA deputy president) Liow Tiong Lai asked (former president) Ong Tee Keat to step down and Samy Vellu told Sambanthan to quit.
“No action was taken against them, so why should I be penalised for making a similar stand?” he asked.
According to Mugilan, he felt duty-bound to voice his opinions.
“I was elected national deputy Youth chief. I am a powerful person, and I have to speak up for the community. The time has come for change,” he added.
“Don't I even have the freedom to state how I feel?” he asked.
Mugilan also denied that his comments were related to his anger for being dropped as a possible candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election.
“Even if I was named as the BN candidate and even if I had become an MP, I would have said the same thing,” he said.
In an immediate reaction, Samy Vellu said that Mugilan will be referred to the party's disciplinary board for working against the party.
Mugilan, who is also the Hulu Selangor MIC Youth chief, was touted as the possible BN candidate for the by-election after deputy president G Palanivel was struck off the list.
However, it was reported that Samy Vellu was opposed to this and even threatened to take disciplinary action against Mugilan for working against the party's interest.
Following a compromise, BN named MIC information chief P Kamalanathan as the candidate.
Youth leader lashes out
In an immediate reaction, Mohan said Mugilan's view does not reflect the stand of the wing.
“As far as MIC Youth is concerned, we will back Samy Vellu as president. We will support him all the way. He has already given a date (for his retirement), so there is nothing more left to talk about.
“The president has many issues to settle before he leaves; he must sort out things like ineffective branches and divisions. Once he sets things in order, he will hand over the reins,” he told FMT.
On Mugilan's remark that he has “benefited” from the president, Mohan lashed out at his deputy, asking him to furnish proof.
“I did not get any benefits. I worked myself up from the grassroots level and won this post by contesting in the party election.
“I never kow-towed to Umno for seats like him. I followed party protocols and rules. Of course, there are leaders whom I dislike in MIC, but I will not indulge in 'underground' work like Mugilan to finish them off,” he said.
Mugilan is said to be close to Umno leaders in Selangor, and they had pushed for his candidacy in the Hulu Selangor by-election.