Datuk G. Palanivel is set to take over the MIC leadership from Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu next week, making him the eighth president in the party's 64-year history.
Samy Vellu, who has helmed the party for almost 31 years, is set to hand over the reins to Palanivel after the party's Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Monday.
"It's either going to be on Monday or at a special handing over ceremony on Tuesday," a party insider told Bernama here Friday.
MIC vice-president and Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam would assume the number two post, he said.
Palanivel, 61, the Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, had been informed of the transition, and was preparing himself to take over the number one post, he said.
Samy Vellu is expected to brief Palanivel on party affairs and give him access to all important party documents either on Monday or Tuesday, the party insider said.
Palanivel, a former editor with Bernama, takes over the MIC at a time when the country is preparing for a possible snap poll, which political observers predicted could be early next year.
The former press secretary to Samy Vellu, the Works Minister from 1979 to March 2008, would be faced with the task of remaking the party in time to face the 13th general election.
The MIC was only three years old when Palanivel was born. At that time, the party was helmed by Budh Singh, who led the MIC from 1947-1950, after which the presidency was assumed by K. Ramanathan for less than a year.
The first MIC president was John A. Thivy from 1946-1947. After Ramanathan, the party was helmed by K.L. Devaser who became MIC's fourth president. The fifth and sixth presidents were Tun V.T. Sambanthan and Tan Sri V. Manickavasagam.
The first four presidents had only ruled the MIC for a short period (less than three years) while Sambanthan presided over the party for 18 years (1955-1973).
Manickavasagam served for six years.
The seventh and current president, Samy Vellu, still holds the record as the longest-serving president, exactly 31 years since 1979.
Palanivel will assume the presidency from Samy Vellu upon which the MIC will hold its triennial presidential election either in March or April 2012.
Samy Vellu is finally stepping down. GAS can now celebrate. MIC’s longest serving president, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, said he is stepping down in January to make way for his deputy Datuk G. Palanivel.
“Today, I’m officially announcing my decision to step down and pass the leadership to my deputy in January next year,” he told reporters after chairing the party’s Central Working Committee here.
He said that he had announced his decision to the CWC earlier.
Samy has held the presidency since 1979 for 11 consecutive terms.
He was the Works Minister of Malaysia and the longest serving minister in the Cabinet until he lost his parliamentary seat in the 2008 general elections.
Recommended reading:
* MIC's MIED corruption scandal
* After Samy Vellu there will be no MIC
A group of sacked MIC grassroots leaders have set up an Anti-Samy Vellu Movement (GAS) to push the party president to step down immediately. The movement would be launched on May 30, said sacked MIC deputy youth leader V. Mugilan.
Activities would start in Kuala Lumpur and move on to other cities to explain why Samy Vellu should relinquish his post now.
Mugilan said the movement would last as long as Samy Vellu held on to his office.
“I have no personal agenda against Samy Vellu. My agenda are the poor Indians and MIC members who have been cheated,” said Mugilan, adding the movement was multiracial and “anybody who did not like Samy Vellu are invited to join.”
Mugilan, at a press conference here, said would not appeal his sacking as deputy youth leader but would instead appeal to remain as a member.
Also attending the press conference was rebel MIC leader G.Kumar Amaan, who on Friday backed Mugilan and also openly called on Samy Vellu to step down immediately.
Mugilan was sacked on Thursday after calling for Samy Vellu to step down as soon as possible ahead of the planned exit next September.
Since then, two others have joined him in calling for Samy Vellu's early retirement - Kumar and fellow central working committee member KP Samy.
Recommended reading:
* Shut up - Muhyiddin told MIC
* After Samy Vellu there will be no MIC
Over the weekend the MIC was unhappy with Cabinet appointments and was considering pulling out its representatives from the government. MIC's threat against the BN leadership was a result of Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu’s exclusion from the Cabinet. The unpopular MIC president is unhappy that he was snubbed while Gerakan president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon was made a minister through a senatorial appointment. All top MIC leaders except for Vice President Datuk S. Sothinathan have voiced their reservation over a move believed to be initiated by party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, to pull the party’s one minister and two deputy ministers from the Cabinet in protest against “poor” representation for the Indian community.
From TheMalaysiaInsider - Be quiet, Muhyiddin tells MIC
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today stopped short, barely, of giving a public dressing down to the MIC by pointing out that Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties should respect the prime minister’s Cabinet choices and not air their grouses publicly.
The deputy prime minister was commenting on reports over the weekend that the MIC was unhappy with Cabinet appointments and was considering pulling out its representatives from the government.
The Malaysian Insider understands the threat against the BN leadership was a result of Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu’s exclusion from the Cabinet. The unpopular MIC president is unhappy that he was snubbed while Gerakan president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon was made a minister through a senatorial appointment.
Muhyiddin told reporters today that dissatisfaction over Cabinet appointments should not be openly discussed as it could be exploited as fodder by the opposition, suggesting the frailties of the BN government against unrelenting attacks from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and other critics of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s fledgling administration.
He added that he has also spoken to the deputy president of MIC, who has denied the party had discussed such a move.
Muhyiddin said there was no need for the matter to be brought up to the BN because the MIC president could always meet the prime minister.
Muhyiddin was speaking to the press after handing over duties at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry to Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, who is the new minister.
Of late there has been intense speculations in the press that MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu was considering pulling out Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam and deputy ministers Datuk S.K. Devamany and Datuk M. Saravanan, from the Cabinet.
The move is seen as a means to pressure the new administration to give the party more Cabinet positions.
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From TheMalaysianInsider - Upset at not being made minister, Samy Vellu threatens BN
By Baradan Kuppusamy
KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 — Embattled MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, whose wish to return to the Cabinet was rejected by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is playing his final gambit by threatening to withdraw the sole MIC minister.
The Malaysian Insider understands Samy Vellu has little support except from party vice-president S. Sothinathan in this gambit which was sparked after Najib rejected all hints last week to make Samy Vellu a senator and put him back into the Cabinet as works minister.
Samy Vellu complained to his supporters that if Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon could be made a senator and minister, he should have been accorded the same privilege.
Samy Vellu is also unhappy that Selangor Gerakan chief A. Kohilan Pillay has been made a deputy foreign minister, a high-profile post for an Indian.
He feels it should have been given to one of his nominees.
After failing to get himself re-appointed, Samy Vellu tried to propose two additional deputy ministers posts for Sothinathan and Senator Loga Chitrakalla, according to MIC sources.
The sources said a close aide of Samy Vellu had leaked the story that Samy Vellu was considering pulling out Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam and deputy ministers Datuk S.K. Devamany and Datuk M. Saravanan, to put pressure on Najib to give additional positions in the Cabinet.
The leaked story is said to be timed for the MIC central working committee meeting on Thursday where Samy Vellu has two choices — to work up his loyalists into making a “do or die” stand over the issue or deny the leaked stories and walk away from the issue.
MIC leaders are divided on whether he will carry out the threat.
“Except for Sothinathan, Samy Vellu is alone in this gambit,” said a senior MIC leader. “He has been asked to wrap up and hand over power in the party by mid-year and that has upset him. He wants to put his man as deputy and serve his three-year term as president before handing over.”
"Najib has told him not a day longer than necessary," the sources said. "This is the real spark for the rebellion against Najib."
Samy Vellu, who seriously believes he can make a comeback, was elected president for an 11th term last month and wants to complete the three-year term before handing over to a yet unnamed successor.
The Malaysian Insider understands from aides that the party's government representatives were shocked and perplexed by the threat.
Samy Vellu’s plan to pull the ministers out of the Cabinet but keep the MIC in the Barisan Nasional coalition, party insiders said, is a scheme hatched out of emotional disappointment with the Cabinet outcome.
“What is the rationale for pulling out of the Cabinet but remaining in the Barisan? If he pulls out of the Cabinet, then MIC must also pull out of the various state executive councils in the country,” the MIC leader said.
Former MIC vice-president Datuk M. Muthupalaniappan, when contacted by The Malaysian Insider, said he takes the threat seriously.
“It is not advisable to pull out of the Cabinet because we will be rendered blind on how the government is thinking and the decisions that are being made,” he said.
“It will be a great disadvantage to the Indian community,” he said.
Another former MIC leader said on condition of anonymity that there would be stiff resistance to the idea at Thursday’s CWC meeting.
“This is one matter Samy Vellu cannot carry through,” he said. “There is too much fear and self interest involved. They will not allow Samy Vellu to carry out this threat.”
But other MIC leaders said a desperate Samy Vellu is capable of even pulling out of the BN and joining the Pakatan Rakyat.
After the recent Cabinet reshuffled by PM Najib Razak, the MIC is disappointed with their allocated Cabinet share and tempted to pull out of the Cabinet but maintain their coalitionship with the federal government. The MIC leadership is studying a proposal for the party to withdraw its one minister and two deputy ministers from the Government as a protest over the lack of importance accorded to the Indian community.
TheStar - MIC considers pulling out of Cabinet in protest
KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC is studying a proposal for the party to withdraw its one minister and two deputy ministers from the Government as a protest over the lack of importance accorded to the Indian community, said a senior party official.
The official, who refused to be named, said the proposal was drawn up at a meeting of top party officials on Friday.
“The proposal will be tabled in the party’s central working committee meeting on Thursday where it is expected to be endorsed,” he said.
MIC’s main representative in the new Cabinet is Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam who was reappointed as the Human Resources Minister. The party also has two deputy ministers – Datuk M. Saravanan (Federal Territories Ministry) and Datuk S.K. Devamany (Prime Minister’s Department).
“The MIC as the third largest component member in the Barisan Nasional had not been given due respect or accorded the deserving treatment by the new government.
“However, even if we do withdraw our representatives, MIC will remain in Barisan but would concentrate on uniting the Indian community,” added the official.
He said party members were unhappy that their request for a senior ministerial portfolio had not been accepted despite repeated appeals.
“MIC had requested for the Works Ministry portfolio – a post held by party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu until he lost the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in the last general election,” he said, adding that former MIC president, the late Tan Sri V. Manickavasagam had held the Transport Ministry portfolio.
He said the Human Resources Minister is considered a junior post in Cabinet, adding that the MIC was disappointed that other component parties were given more and better positions.
When contacted, Subramaniam, who is MIC secretary-general, said he had not heard of such a move.
“Decisions on any matter concerning the party have always been discussed with the party president in the Central Working Committee.
“If there are differences within Barisan, it will be discussed behind closed doors and resolved amicably.”
Here a summary of the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) scandal over alleged mismanagement of fund.
* MIED is an education arm of MIC.
* Samy Vellu is the MIED chairman.
* MIED chief executive officer P. Chitrakala Vasu to go on leave.
* Missing amount totaled to RM5.265mil at MIED.
* Mismanagement of awarding of construction contracts for AIMST.
* Tan Sri M. Mahalingam, a signatory of MIED cheques, was removed as MIC treasurer-general last December.
From TheStar
A MIED top official linked to funds mismanagement
By FLORENCE A. SAMY
PETALING JAYA: The Maju Institute of Educational Development controversy has taken another twist with the MIC president pointing fingers at a top MIED personnel for the alleged mismanagement of funds amounting to millions of ringgit.
Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu claimed that they had identified the person as the one allegedly responsible for the missing RM5.26mil He also hinted that more discrepancies would be revealed.
“The police are investigating the case. MIED has made a report to the police over two people. The first stage of the missing amount is RM5.265mil.
“We investigated and identified that the money was taken under different disguise and put into someone else’s account. We have to report this to the police.
“We cannot keep quiet and allow things to happen. We are still investigating and there are more and more coming,” he told reporters on Sunday at the MIC-owned MIED’s UPSR excellent achievement awards ceremony here yesterday. MIED is MIC’s education arm.
Controversy had plagued MIED over the alleged mismanagement.
On Saturday, it was reported that the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department was investigating two senior MIED executives for alleged criminal breach of trust.
Samy Vellu said Sunday that many had an incorrect perception that MIED was being investigated.
“MIED is not being investigated. We have reported to the police and have asked them to investigate,” he added.
On being queried by the police recently, Samy Vellu said the police came to see him given his capacity as the MIED chairman.
“Naturally, police came to see me as I am the head of MIED.
They wanted to find out what had happened - who is the chief executive officer, how did we employ her, what are her responsibilities - all this I have to answer,” he added.
Samy Vellu also chided the media for reporting that the construction cost of party-owned Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) had ballooned, which he said was untrue.
He explained that there were four stages of construction, with the first stage costing RM235mil. The cost at the final stage, he said, stood at RM485mil. AIMST university, which is in Kedah, was officially opened last year. MIED runs AIMST through MIED Capital Sdn Bhd.
A furious Samy Vellu challenged the media to look into their account books, stating that “every cent is accounted for.”
“There is a project manager and a quantity surveyor to oversee the thing. We do not call for tender; the quantity surveyor calls for tender.
“The newspapers should have more responsibility. They should ask us,” he said, adding that they were planning to take legal action against a news agency which first stated that the cost had ballooned.
Samy Vellu said that it was impossible to build a university for RM265mil as “even the government university cost’s RM1bil.”
When the controversy broke out, Samy Vellu had asked MIED chief executive officer P. Chitrakala Vasu to go on leave. He also issued her with several show-cause letters which she had replied to.
Last week, a former MIC member lodged a police report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, alleging that he had evidence of alleged mismanagement in the awarding of construction contracts for AIMST.
Last month, MIC vice-president and MIED director Datuk Seri S. Sothinathan had lodged police reports over missing MIED files.
Last December, Tan Sri M. Mahalingam, a signatory of MIED cheques, was removed as MIC treasurer-general by Samy Vellu who said the move was part of an MIC rebranding exercise.
Most detractors of MIC or Samy Vellu have grudgingly acknowledge that ‘Samy Vellu is MIC, and MIC is Samy Vellu’. That's mean, once Samy Vellu left the party for retirement, there is likely no suitable or capable candidate to take over the leadership of MIC.
MIC now is in a shamble and headless. It's foundation has been destroyed after the result of the General Election 2008 that resulted in severe loss for their heavy weight. As a result, Indian MPs from MIC representation in the Parliament as well as the Cabinet has been greatly reduced. And Samy Vellu is responsible to this mess.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Extract: Bernama
Who will lead MIC after Samy Vellu?
Departure date set, but answer to this question a mystery
KUALA LUMPUR: Who is set to take over as MIC president from Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu
The answer to this question, as always, continues to be shrouded in mystery. This is despite the man - who helmed the largest Indian-based political party since 1981 - having announced that the recent general election was his last and he would vacate his party position, come 2012.
But, one must remember that this is a man who runs the MIC with an iron fist and brookes no nonsense, causing some detractors to grudgingly acknowledge that ‘Samy Vellu is MIC, and MIC is Samy Vellu’.
Although there are a few potential candidates who can fill in the shoes of the MIC supremo, the absence of a succession “talk” in the party has added to the mystery on who would eventually takeover from Samy Vellu and face the immense task of reviving the party which lost six parliamentary seats and 13 state constituencies in the March 8 general election.
To worsen matters, the former works minister, by his own admission at the party’s 62nd annual general assembly in Putra World Trade Centre on Saturday, revealed that the 630,000-member strong MIC did not have a secession plan but “would leave it to the grassroots to chose their next leader.”
“The grassroots can elect their next leader. There is no such thing as an automatic succession plan in MIC. The grassroots can elect whoever they want,” he said.
His latest remark, according to political observers, is a departure from what he had announced after the party polls in 2006, when he voiced support for his former press secretary Datuk G Palanivel, who beat longtime incumbent deputy president Datuk S Subramaniam to become the party’s number two.
However, Samy Vellu’s most recent stance is likely to open the floodgates for aspiring candidates to vie for the deputy presidency at the party polls next year, knowing very well that the person who wins the race is likely to replace Samy Vellu at the next party elections would be after the planned departure of the MIC supremo.
This, observers say, is likely to lead to more politicking in the MIC, and thus, adding to the “misery” suffered by the party at the recent general election.
“It appears that not only is the party facing a decline in support but also emerging as one of very few Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties void of a succession plan. It reflects very badly on the current leadership,” a party insider, who declined to be named, told Bernama.
Other BN components like MCA and Umno have announced or seem to have a succession plan but this issue was not even raised at the one-day MIC annual general assembly held at the Putra World Trade Centre.
However, the focus of the general assembly was instead, on re-branding the party and its idealogies and the lack of discussion on the succession plan had irked some quarters.
Would Samy Vellu heed the message sent by MIC coalition partners that he should consider early retirement, despite making a stand to hand over power by 2012?
However, the vocal and outspoken ‘Thalaivar’ (leader in Tamil) as Samy Vellu is affectionately known, also threw another mind-boggling statement at the assembly when he said: “I would leave the decision of re-electing me as party president in the next party election, to the 3,600 branch chairmen.
“When there is an election, the question of automatically becoming a president goes off. I don’t think anything can happen without an election,” he said.
These statements by Samy Vellu have added more “confusion” to the already-confused MIC members, as not only was a successor not been identified, but they are not sure if the party chief would vacate his post, come 2012.
His detractors feel that his latest statement was “as rhetoric as before” since it does not have any significant meaning as he is likely to be renominated and win the top post uncontested.
Several grassroots leaders speaking to Bernama, on condition of anonymity, say that it was very unlikely that Samy Vellu would be challenged as “nobody dares to do that”.
“Whoever tries to go for the top leadership, he or she will be chopped off. That is why nobody dares to speak up,” said a leader who repeatedly asked not to be identified.
Some argued that the signal from the grassroots “is very clear that they are not too happy” with Samy Vellu’s decision to stay on until 2012 and that he should soon hand over power to his deputy.
However, when this question was posed to Samy Vellu yesterday, he brushed it aside saying: “If they are unhappy with me, they wouldn’t come for the meeting.”
However, some party leaders are not too concerned about the succession plan or whether Samy Vellu should stay on until 2012.
Seremban branch chairman Datuk M Muthupalaniappan, also a former MIC vice-president, said although succession was important, the priority now should be to strengthen the party through its re-branding exercise.
He believes the MIC can regain its support among the 1.8 million Malaysian Indian community, regardless whether there was a transition plan for the top leadership.
“The assurance by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to help the Indian community, especially in education, will help the MIC. That is more important than who takes over the party.
“Education is the key to success and the country’s progress depends on the people. The step taken by the government will help the Indian community progress on par with the other races,” he said.
Selangor MIC Wanita secretary J Malika believes that with or without transition of leadership, MIC would still regain its strength. She said there were many leaders in the MIC who were capable of helping and developing the community.
“Rebranding comes with new ideas and the leaders now have a clear idea on ways to aid the community. We will leave it to the president to handle it and we believe that he has the capacity and capability to do it,” she added.
