By : Suganthi Supramaniam
SUNGAI PETANI, Mon:MIC chief Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu is here in Sungai Petani and supervising the campaign for his party man, Datuk V. Ganesan. For the last 20 days he has parked himself here to ensure the BN and Ganesan emerged victorious on April 7. Suganthi Supramaniam spoke exclusively to the MIC supremo who shattered a claim here that Samy Vellu is not welcomed by local BN leaders.
Is it true that UMNO Kedah is not happy with you being here?
No. They are happy. Kedah UMNO are very pleasant people. They have called me, invited me for tea and also asked me to speak. If they are unhappy with me, we will lose the by-election.
Do you see yourself as a stumbling block to BN and MIC?
No. If I had not come here, the environment would be different. The people will still be anti-BN. The people here love to see us again and again.
Why Ganesan?
He is young, well known and experienced. He was also the former Lunas state assemblyman. He was not fielded in the last general election because at that time a lot of other youngsters had wanted to contest
There is talk that Ganesan is not well liked here by the Kedah MIC. Your comment.
Whenever you put a candidate, you will not get 100 per cent acceptance. It is like a arranged marriage, at first you don't like the bride chosen by the father, but slowly you will and will even have four or five children. Ganesan is new and has a pleasant face. Face is the mirror of the heart.
Are you aware that Pakatan Rakyat is trying to dig up dirt on Ganesan?
Let them. We can also dig up Anwar’s (Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) past. If Ganesan does not have good record, then neither has Anwar. It takes a thief to call another a thief.
Earlier you were talking about fielding Datuk V. Saravanan. What happened?
Even though I was talking about Saravanan and he can also speak the local dialect, I had Ganesan in mind. But the age of the other candidate came into consideration and that’s why we choose Ganesan.
Is it true that there is a lack of talent in Kedah MIC?
No. We have people likes S. Krishnan (former candidate), we have graduates with masters and doctors. By-elections are more difficult and challenging than general elections and we needed someone with the quality, talent and experience of working with the people.
What will happen if MIC loses this time?
I don’t want to talk about losing, only wining and winning. I am a winner, even from those days when I was a cook, telephone operator or office boy. (He was in good mood yesterday morning. His car number 1818 came out in Toto. Starter. He said he did not buy)
What is your reading on Bukit Selambau?
BN can be confident that the votes are returning. Minds are changing. They know where their future lies, whom they can rely upon, that they need a steady government and that steady government is the BN. Astrologically, 2008 was a bad year for Indians where a lot of political calamity took place. But, 2009 will be a good year for them with BN having a deeper look and doing the necessary for them.
What are the issues here?
We have welfare issues and the Social Security Organisation (Socso) is among the biggest problems here. We also have people with medical problems, and people with low income and unable to take care of their families.
No. They are happy. Kedah UMNO are very pleasant people. They have called me, invited me for tea and also asked me to speak. If they are unhappy with me, we will lose the by-election.
Do you see yourself as a stumbling block to BN and MIC?
No. If I had not come here, the environment would be different. The people will still be anti-BN. The people here love to see us again and again.
Why Ganesan?
He is young, well known and experienced. He was also the former Lunas state assemblyman. He was not fielded in the last general election because at that time a lot of other youngsters had wanted to contest
There is talk that Ganesan is not well liked here by the Kedah MIC. Your comment.
Whenever you put a candidate, you will not get 100 per cent acceptance. It is like a arranged marriage, at first you don't like the bride chosen by the father, but slowly you will and will even have four or five children. Ganesan is new and has a pleasant face. Face is the mirror of the heart.
Are you aware that Pakatan Rakyat is trying to dig up dirt on Ganesan?
Let them. We can also dig up Anwar’s (Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) past. If Ganesan does not have good record, then neither has Anwar. It takes a thief to call another a thief.
Earlier you were talking about fielding Datuk V. Saravanan. What happened?
Even though I was talking about Saravanan and he can also speak the local dialect, I had Ganesan in mind. But the age of the other candidate came into consideration and that’s why we choose Ganesan.
Is it true that there is a lack of talent in Kedah MIC?
No. We have people likes S. Krishnan (former candidate), we have graduates with masters and doctors. By-elections are more difficult and challenging than general elections and we needed someone with the quality, talent and experience of working with the people.
What will happen if MIC loses this time?
I don’t want to talk about losing, only wining and winning. I am a winner, even from those days when I was a cook, telephone operator or office boy. (He was in good mood yesterday morning. His car number 1818 came out in Toto. Starter. He said he did not buy)
What is your reading on Bukit Selambau?
BN can be confident that the votes are returning. Minds are changing. They know where their future lies, whom they can rely upon, that they need a steady government and that steady government is the BN. Astrologically, 2008 was a bad year for Indians where a lot of political calamity took place. But, 2009 will be a good year for them with BN having a deeper look and doing the necessary for them.
What are the issues here?
We have welfare issues and the Social Security Organisation (Socso) is among the biggest problems here. We also have people with medical problems, and people with low income and unable to take care of their families.
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