However, MIC’s No 2 dismisses rumours of a rift with the party president.
INTERVIEW
PETALING JAYA: MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam has again dismissed talk of a rift between him and the party boss, G Palanivel, but has not shied from rejecting the latter’s claim of responsibility for the rise in his political fortune.
In a recent interview with FMT, Subramaniam chose instead to thank former MIC president S Samy Vellu for his government and party posts.
However, he referred to rumours about him and Palanivel plotting the downfall of each other as the “creation of imaginative minds aimed at sowing discord”.
He said he had a good working relationship with Palanivel and accused the media of fanning rumours about plots and counter-plots.
“We’ve got no problems,” he said. “We communicate with each other quite well. We frequently discuss Indian issues and party matters.
“You can ask him. He will tell you the same thing.”
Asked whether he would consider vying for the presidency in the next MIC polls, he said: “I’ve never thought of that.”
However, he confirmed reports that there are groups in the party that want him to seek election as party president.
His decision, he added, would be based on what would be good for MIC and the Indian community.
He said the party’s current focus should be on the 13th general election.
Recently, Palanivel, while denying that his relationship with Dr Subramaniam was rocky, hinted that not everything was rosy.
Realities of politics
Speaking to FMT, the party president expressed confidence of emerging victorious if Dr Subramaniam were to go against him.
“I was the person who brought him in,” he said. “I made him a MP and secretary-general.”
Subramaniam said Samy Vellu was the one who brought all the current top leaders into MIC and gave them the opportunity to rise to their current positions.
“Everybody now, including the present president, are people who were supported, brought in, and developed by the past president. We can’t deny it.”
He also said that all the current party leaders were still close to Samy Vellu.
Asked to rate Palanivel’s leadership in comparison to Samy Vellu’s, Subramaniam praised the current president’s acumen as a “strategist and planner” and described his predecessor as a fighter.
“We can’t say who is better. At the end of the day, it’s the results that matter.”
Subramaniam also addressed criticism –by those who support him – that he was being too soft about making a bid for the party presidency.
“I think that is the wrong measurement” for toughness, he laughed. “Putting your neck out to challenge should not be the criterion on which you determine whether a person is soft or strong.
“It is more on a person’s ability to analyse ideas and do things in the correct manner, taking into consideration the realities of politics.”
Below are excerpts from the interview:
Is there a rift between you and the president?
We’ve got no problems. This is all is what you read in the media, you know. At present, the relationship between top MIC leaders is cordial. We communicate with each other quite well. We frequently discuss Indian issues and party matters. There are no issues. Rumours of a rift between us are the creation of imaginative minds aimed at sowing discord. In politics, there will always be people who pit one person against another, and that probably is the reason why that kind of perception is there. In reality, there is no such thing. The accusations of plotting and counter-plotting have no basis. You can ask him, he will tell you the same thing.
Ok. Is there a plan to “kill you off”, as some have put it? Have you heard of such a thing?
I have not seen real evidence that that is being done. So I don’t want to hear rumours from people who are not in official positions, trying to say things like that.
Will MIC be giving more opportunities to more of the younger leaders?
It is happening, isn’t it? With the present group, virtually all are new. In this election, more new faces will come out. That transformation and transition is an ongoing process.
Would you be vying for the post of party president at the next party polls?
I’ve never thought of that.
Never thought of that?
Yes. Of course, people will suggest all sorts of things, but we will make decisions based on the interest of the community and the party.
Have you been receiving a lot of support to go for the presidency?
Well, there are always, in politics, people who will say this and that. We live with it, and we make our own decisions based on what we think is right.
You’ve not given it any thought?
For most of us, the main concern is meeting the challenge of the next general election. To a great extent, the political future of the party and many people in the party will be determined by the results of the next general election. Only after that will the other things fall in place. So I think it’s important that everybody focuses on the election.
There are rumours that you are supported by the former president
I’m close to him, as all of us are. Everybody now, including the present president, are people who were supported, brought in, and developed by the past president. We can’t deny it. He gave us the opportunity. He gave all of us an opportunity, he gave me the opportunity, he gave the present president the opportunity, he gave the present vice-presidents opportunity. Everybody. He gave the opportunity, for us to be in whatever position in which we are now.
Palanivel said in a recent interview with FMT that he was confident in a one-on-one situation against you.
Because you guys asked him that question. So he had to respond. I’m not going to. I’ve already told you I’ve not thought of it. So I don’t want to give you the answer to the next part.
How do you see Palanivel as the party boss in comparison with Samy Vellu?
Different styles, definitely different styles. No two leaders are the same. Each will have his individual style and be equally effective. Samy Vellu was outspoken, the fighting kind, visibly fighting kind of leader, whereas the present president is more of a strategist and planner. And he goes for planning and implementation.
So I cannot compare two different systems. At the end of the day it is which produces the best results.
Of course, in the big portion of his political life, Samy Vellu was respected as the single leader of the Indian community. Of course, towards the last few years, when the political tide changed, the opposition to him grew, you see. But in the initial years, he came in as a change for Indians and MIC’s future. He did bring some major transformations. He gained the trust for a long time. Of course, the last few years, in the change of political climates, he faced some problems.
We can’t ask who is better. At the end of the day, it’s the results that matter.
So, based on the current results?
Takes time for us to wait and see because we are faced with the transformation of the community. Only time will tell to what extent we have been able to solve problems of the Indian community.
There are rumours of the return of former deputy presidency contender S Sothinathan to MIC.
He was a former vice-president, former deputy minister. Of course, he lost in the last election. I think he met the president and requested that he given another opportunity for the constituency of Teluk Kemang. And the president has suggested that he has a role to play in politics. The president has communicated with me that those discussions have occurred.
MIC has two full ministers. How has that benefited the Indian community?
Still very early to see the results. It’s just been three months since we’ve had that. It definitely will create better opportunities for us to get the government programmes connected to the Indian community. Of course, it gives both of us the ears of the top leadership of the country, brings us closer to them. Obviously, it has given us a wider spectrum for putting forward the community’s agenda. This will, over a period of time, translate into bringing a more rapid transformation of the community.
INTERVIEW
PETALING JAYA: MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam has again dismissed talk of a rift between him and the party boss, G Palanivel, but has not shied from rejecting the latter’s claim of responsibility for the rise in his political fortune.In a recent interview with FMT, Subramaniam chose instead to thank former MIC president S Samy Vellu for his government and party posts.
However, he referred to rumours about him and Palanivel plotting the downfall of each other as the “creation of imaginative minds aimed at sowing discord”.
He said he had a good working relationship with Palanivel and accused the media of fanning rumours about plots and counter-plots.
“We’ve got no problems,” he said. “We communicate with each other quite well. We frequently discuss Indian issues and party matters.
“You can ask him. He will tell you the same thing.”
Asked whether he would consider vying for the presidency in the next MIC polls, he said: “I’ve never thought of that.”
However, he confirmed reports that there are groups in the party that want him to seek election as party president.
His decision, he added, would be based on what would be good for MIC and the Indian community.
He said the party’s current focus should be on the 13th general election.
Recently, Palanivel, while denying that his relationship with Dr Subramaniam was rocky, hinted that not everything was rosy.
Realities of politics
Speaking to FMT, the party president expressed confidence of emerging victorious if Dr Subramaniam were to go against him.
“I was the person who brought him in,” he said. “I made him a MP and secretary-general.”
Subramaniam said Samy Vellu was the one who brought all the current top leaders into MIC and gave them the opportunity to rise to their current positions.
“Everybody now, including the present president, are people who were supported, brought in, and developed by the past president. We can’t deny it.”
He also said that all the current party leaders were still close to Samy Vellu.
Asked to rate Palanivel’s leadership in comparison to Samy Vellu’s, Subramaniam praised the current president’s acumen as a “strategist and planner” and described his predecessor as a fighter.
“We can’t say who is better. At the end of the day, it’s the results that matter.”
Subramaniam also addressed criticism –by those who support him – that he was being too soft about making a bid for the party presidency.
“I think that is the wrong measurement” for toughness, he laughed. “Putting your neck out to challenge should not be the criterion on which you determine whether a person is soft or strong.
“It is more on a person’s ability to analyse ideas and do things in the correct manner, taking into consideration the realities of politics.”
Below are excerpts from the interview:
Is there a rift between you and the president?
We’ve got no problems. This is all is what you read in the media, you know. At present, the relationship between top MIC leaders is cordial. We communicate with each other quite well. We frequently discuss Indian issues and party matters. There are no issues. Rumours of a rift between us are the creation of imaginative minds aimed at sowing discord. In politics, there will always be people who pit one person against another, and that probably is the reason why that kind of perception is there. In reality, there is no such thing. The accusations of plotting and counter-plotting have no basis. You can ask him, he will tell you the same thing.
Ok. Is there a plan to “kill you off”, as some have put it? Have you heard of such a thing?
I have not seen real evidence that that is being done. So I don’t want to hear rumours from people who are not in official positions, trying to say things like that.
Will MIC be giving more opportunities to more of the younger leaders?
It is happening, isn’t it? With the present group, virtually all are new. In this election, more new faces will come out. That transformation and transition is an ongoing process.
Would you be vying for the post of party president at the next party polls?
I’ve never thought of that.
Never thought of that?
Yes. Of course, people will suggest all sorts of things, but we will make decisions based on the interest of the community and the party.
Have you been receiving a lot of support to go for the presidency?
Well, there are always, in politics, people who will say this and that. We live with it, and we make our own decisions based on what we think is right.
You’ve not given it any thought?
For most of us, the main concern is meeting the challenge of the next general election. To a great extent, the political future of the party and many people in the party will be determined by the results of the next general election. Only after that will the other things fall in place. So I think it’s important that everybody focuses on the election.
There are rumours that you are supported by the former president
I’m close to him, as all of us are. Everybody now, including the present president, are people who were supported, brought in, and developed by the past president. We can’t deny it. He gave us the opportunity. He gave all of us an opportunity, he gave me the opportunity, he gave the present president the opportunity, he gave the present vice-presidents opportunity. Everybody. He gave the opportunity, for us to be in whatever position in which we are now.
Palanivel said in a recent interview with FMT that he was confident in a one-on-one situation against you.
Because you guys asked him that question. So he had to respond. I’m not going to. I’ve already told you I’ve not thought of it. So I don’t want to give you the answer to the next part.
How do you see Palanivel as the party boss in comparison with Samy Vellu?
Different styles, definitely different styles. No two leaders are the same. Each will have his individual style and be equally effective. Samy Vellu was outspoken, the fighting kind, visibly fighting kind of leader, whereas the present president is more of a strategist and planner. And he goes for planning and implementation.
So I cannot compare two different systems. At the end of the day it is which produces the best results.
Of course, in the big portion of his political life, Samy Vellu was respected as the single leader of the Indian community. Of course, towards the last few years, when the political tide changed, the opposition to him grew, you see. But in the initial years, he came in as a change for Indians and MIC’s future. He did bring some major transformations. He gained the trust for a long time. Of course, the last few years, in the change of political climates, he faced some problems.
We can’t ask who is better. At the end of the day, it’s the results that matter.
So, based on the current results?
Takes time for us to wait and see because we are faced with the transformation of the community. Only time will tell to what extent we have been able to solve problems of the Indian community.
There are rumours of the return of former deputy presidency contender S Sothinathan to MIC.
He was a former vice-president, former deputy minister. Of course, he lost in the last election. I think he met the president and requested that he given another opportunity for the constituency of Teluk Kemang. And the president has suggested that he has a role to play in politics. The president has communicated with me that those discussions have occurred.
MIC has two full ministers. How has that benefited the Indian community?
Still very early to see the results. It’s just been three months since we’ve had that. It definitely will create better opportunities for us to get the government programmes connected to the Indian community. Of course, it gives both of us the ears of the top leadership of the country, brings us closer to them. Obviously, it has given us a wider spectrum for putting forward the community’s agenda. This will, over a period of time, translate into bringing a more rapid transformation of the community.
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