MIC AGM: Anti-climatic finish after Samy's silence on successor

By S Retnanathan, B Nantha Kumar and G Vinod - Free Malaysia Today MIC AGM round-up The much anticipated announcement by MIC chief S Samy Vellu on his departure from active politics at the end of the party's 64th annual general assembly, which concluded here yesterday, turned out to be anti-climax after the long serving party chief failed to speak on the touchy subject.
Failure to provide a full explanation on the issue by Samy Vellu has also raised questions if deputy president G Palanivel would indeed succeed the president who has announced that he would quit from the post which he held since 1979, in September 2011.

He was widely anticipated to announce his successor at the end of the assembly to clear the air on speculation if Palanivel would takeover the MIC presidency in the future.

The 74-year-old veteran leader in his winding-up speech spoke on various issues ranging from economy, Tamil schools, higher education opportunites for Indian students and social problems but left out party politics.

Instead he took a swipe at ineffective MIC branch members who failed to carry out their duties but wanted positions in the party.

Disciplinary action in the form of a show cause letter would be issued to some 358 delegates to the assembly, who failed to show-up for the assembly despite taking up accomodations prepared by the party.

“These are the kind of leaders we have. They would be issued show cause letters on Wednesday. I want an explanation on why they did not attend the assembly,” said Samy Vellu.

While he spoke on various issues, the closest he came to naming Palanivel as his successor was when he answered as query from a delegate who wanted the party to provide financial aid to branch chairmen.

Presently the party subscribes to an insurance scheme which provides RM10,000 to widow of a branch chairman who had passed away.

“Instead of providing money after we die, it would be better if the money was given when we are alive,” the delegate had requested.

To this Samy Vellu replied:” I cannot decide on that. I will leave that to the next president...Palanivel will see to that.”

Another hint dropped by Samy Vellu, that he would relinquish the post, was when he spoke about the role of the media and how some newsmen went to great length to tarnish the image of the MIC and Samy Vellu.

“But don't worry about that, soon they will not write anymore,” he said.

Samy Vellu in his opening address at the assembly on Saturday had fuelled speculation that he would name his successor at the end of the assembly.

Tribute from Najib

Departing from the norm, the MIC chief spent a good amount of time thanking all those who had helped him throughout his 30-year journey as president and admitted that some decisions he made during the tenure as difficult.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak who opened the assembly also paid tribute to the veteran leader, pointing out how Samy Vellu was always vocal at cabinet meetings fighting for Malaysian Indian community.

However, Najib also said that not only the Barisan Nasional was at crossroads but also all component parties including MIC, indicating on the need for a change of leadership in the party.

He has been calling for change in the party leadership since the party polls last year but to date the party had maintained its status-quo.

Since the 2008 general election which saw the ruling coalition suffer a devastating defeat, losing its two-thirds majority in Parliament, Samy Vellu has been under pressure to quit and hand over the party to a younger leader in an effort to woo Indian voters who had deserted the BN in the polls.

The failure of the MIC chief to explain the leadership transition would definitely raise to further speculation on who the next MIC president would be.

The assembly was the best forum for Samy Vellu to tell MIC members what was in his mind, however it is uncertain if the MIC supremo left out the topic on purpose.

When approached by reporters at the end of the assembly he declined to answer to queries about his presidency only saying,” I do not want to talk about my presidency.”