FULL REPORT KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president S Samy Vellu said he would relinquish his post next January and pave the way for his deputy G Palanivel to take over.
"Today, I am officially announcing my decision to step down and pass the leadership to my deputy in January next year," he said.
Samy Vellu was speaking to reporters after chairing the MIC Central Working Committee meeting at the party headquarters here.
The 74-year-old politician, who had helmed the party for three decades, said that he had announced his decision to the CWC earlier.
Previously, speculation was rife that Samy Vellu had come under pressure from Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to step down.
However, Samy Vellu was re-elected as president unopposed and his line-up also triumphed at the party polls despite Najib having signalled the need for change in his opening speech at the MIC AGM.
Observers had attributed this to the veteran's cult-like status in the party, which was unshakeable by external forces.
In the 2008 general election, Samy Vellu and MIC were dealt a devastating blow, which saw all its top office bearers, including the president, losing their seats.
Since then, the president had focused his efforts on rebuilding and re-branding the party.
"I will announce the specific date later," he said.
He added that his resignation could take place before or after he attended the ninth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi where he would be discussing opportunities for Malaysian contractors to be involved in the building of infrastructure in India.
Nothing to do with GAS
Samy Vellu also said that his decision to quit early was not due to pressure from any group.
"The pressure group (GAS) came after the recent Hulu Selangor by-election. However, I did already mention about my resignation to the prime minister, Najib Tun Razak before that by-election," he said.
When asked about post-retirement plans, Samy Vellu said he would be concentrating on enhancing the relationship between India and Malaysia in terms of infrastructure.
"There is urgency in India's infrastructure development requirements, and there is a lot of opportunity for Malaysian contractors. I want to give them the push and make use of the development programmes India is implementing," he said.
MIC vice-president and Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam said the change in party leadership was normal and Samy Vellu himself had told members about his intention before, and only the date was not specified.
"So, he has announced it today. I hope the leadership transition will be smoother and hope he will always be there to advise the new leadership," he told reporters.
Palanivel: No comment for now
Palanivel was also present during the press conference, seated next to the outgoing chief, but declined to comment. He said he will respond to this development at a later date.
In May this year, during the Federal Territory MIC convention, Samy Vellu had said that he would step down "seven to eight months" before his term ends in March 2012.
Samy Vellu, who won unopposed as party president in September last year for the record 11th term, said his resignation before completion of his term would give the new leader a chance to take over the presidency and give him ample time to prepare for the next general election.
"If I wait for another two years, I don't think it's good, because we want to have the new leader for the election who will have his own policies and his own word of order and I think it will be better in order to prepare for the election," he said.
Samy Vellu, who lost in the 2008 general election, said he would leave the party completely afterwards and would not disturb the new leadership.
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