By Baradan Kuppusamy - The Malaysian Insider
Mahathir (right) has thrown his support behind Subramaniam, in an obvious slight against Samy Vellu. — file pic
Dr Mahathir said delegates should remove Samy Vellu, who was “elected” unopposed for an 11th term as president in March.
His remarks in an interview — published in Subramaniam’s Makkal Osai yesterday, with a second installment on the front page today, and possibly a third and final installment on polling day tomorrow — are the talk of the MIC.
“Everyone is asking what would be the impact of Tun’s stand against Samy Vellu? Will delegates heed Tun’s call to make changes?” said former Petronas senior manager and veteran MIC-man S. Masilamani.
“There is great expectation,” he told The Malaysian Insider at a major gathering of Subramaniam supporters in Klang last night. “The shock effect of the statement is absolutely staggering.”
Dr Mahathir said in the interview that the Indian community voted for the opposition in the 2008 general election because of their anger towards Samy Vellu.
“He (Samy Vellu) has been too long in the party and had never allowed any leader to grow…he was always focused on exacting revenge against his opponents,” the paper quoted Dr Mahathir as saying yesterday.
“If the Indian community wants to progress and go forward they should remove Samy Vellu,” Dr Mahathir said.
Makkal Osai went to town with the second installment today on the front page with the headline “Samy Destroyed Legitimate Leaders, says Tun Mahathir” along with a photograph of Dr Mahathir holding a Makkal Osai newspaper.
Mahathir also referred to a now-famous statement by Samy Vellu in 2008 where he says Dr Mahathir “did nothing” for the Indian community after the former PM said Samy Vellu never asked “anything” for the community.
“How cheap and desperate can a man be?” Samy Vellu said reacting to the report.
“Subramaniam is so desperate that he had to seek the mandate from Dr Mahathir to win in the party elections. He has brought shame to the MIC members and the party,” he added in a statement.
The impact of Dr Mahathir’s statement on the MIC mindset can be seen in the volatile and vitriolic reaction from Samy Vellu, who issued a long statement yesterday roundly condemning as a traitor, a person who uses Dr Mahathir to attack MIC but then comes to the party to beg for votes.
Samy Vellu labeled Subramaniam “desperate” for seeking help from Mahathir. — file pic
Dr Mahathir’s calculated entry against Samy Vellu has significantly shaken the president’s camp, with some key leaders keeping a distance from his counter attack.
While Samy Vellu lambasted Dr Mahathir and Subramaniam, others including his deputy president candidate Datuk G. Palanivel and all three vice-presidential candidates — Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, Datuk SK Devamany and Datuk S. Sothinathan — all distanced themselves from Samy Vellu.
“He is like a lone giant in his final death throes,” an MIC insider said. “Mahathir’s statement tells delegates that official support for Samy Vellu is long gone.”
“We know the government has told him to pack up and leave but he is refusing… so from now on the delegates know push will come to shove,” the delegate said.
“But it would be a slow process to force him out because of the way he has manipulated the party to serve his interest,” the insider said.
MIC insiders said Dr Mahathir’s statement, together with internal and outside pressure, is helping to force Samy Vellu to step down.
“Ultimately it is in the hands of the 1,446 delegates to make their wishes known,” said Masilamani. “If they elect Subramaniam on Saturday it would be the clearest signal yet that the party wants Samy Vellu to step down.”
“Considering all the circumstances…I expect a very close tight race,” he said adding that Subramaniam and his team have an edge if the election is free and fair.
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