Stop the endorsements, says Subra loyalist

K Pragalath, Jul 23, 09, Malaysiakini.com --

A former MIC central working committee member has called on party president S Samy Vellu to stop endorsing and campaigning for candidates vying for party posts.

KP Samy, a loyalist of aspiring deputy president S Subramaniam, made the statement in relation to the close-door meetings that Samy Vellu has been having with party division leaders in Negri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur.

"Samy should reconsider efforts to strengthen the party by stopping his endorsements. There is no party with this practice," he told a press conference in Klang today.

Urging the president to be neutral, the former CWC member said: "Even Umno gives an option for candidates to meet delegates. This should be applied to MIC as well."

He said Samy Vellu should revert to what was practiced in 1997 where the president introduces all the candidates, including those endorsed, to the delegates.

Weak leaders

Elaborating further, Samy said with the endorsements, the impression created is that nominations for other candidates would run contrary to the party's wishes.

However, he claimed that the endorsed candidates would be seen as weak for not being able to stand on their own and their grassroots support would not be tested.

He also cited the 2007 Kampung Jawa temple issue to substantiate his statement.

"If the leader who was elected was a grassroots leader, he would have at least gone down to the field," he said.

On Subramaniam's campaign for the number two post, Samy said delegates continue to meet him despite pressure from the top not to do so.

The MIC elections is due to take place in September.