So the race is on. The first contender has announced that he is gunning for the top post of MIC. Samy Vellu has something to think about, his own position, that he has fiercely guarded for the last 29 years is at stake. But not to worry he has enough material in his box of tricks and strategies, he has just to pull out one of those and the opponent candidate will drop dead, not physically but a political death. We read that 5 other people have contested against Sam earlier, but of no avail. Samy stands like the Rock of Gibraltar. Nobody has honoured him with this greatness of the world renowned rock of the world, but after holding the post for that long and defeating anybody that crossed his path, I think Samy deserves this accolade. It is worth remembering Y Thomas Samy’s good friend and a fellow bus conductor when both worked for a bus company, Even Y Thomas was defeated in the Presidential race – what a race it might have been.
How I wish the first candidate has come with some worthy credentials, Alex Thiagarasan was a former PPP strong man and a party hopper, and in my dictionary any man worth his salt will stick through with his original party unless you are a political maverick, if PPP did not make him happy so would MIC. I wonder how party hoppers make their decisions, is it something to do with personalities or the aspirations or ideals of the party they represent. I don’t how much of grass root Alex has got, but this jumping about from one to another clears lacks political maturity. He may not have that support at all.
Former MIC deputy President Datuk S.Subramaniam comes to my mind as a candidate, but his wishy-washy thinking is his enemy and he can’t make much of an impact.
The MIC members and Indians alike may wish for a saviour, a Rama character to defeat Ravana of Ramayana’s origin, but somebody must be groomed to take the place of Rama.
My bet is Tan Sri K.S. Nijhar who resigned as a Vice President of MIC lately because he was against Sam for sacking Jumbo Maniam. Nijhar is Sikh and history tells us that another Sikh by the name of Mr. Budh Singh (1947-1950) was the second President of MIC. Mr Budh Singh worked in the Railways those days. A precedence, therefore has been set. Nijhar has done some memorable service while he was an MP and I am told he is helpful not only to the Indians but other races as well. Perhaps he can eradicate maladies like the caste system, that is practiced in MIC even now. But would MIC members support him. Can he get the support of 300 branch chiefs who are just faithful greedy recipients of Samy Vellu’s hand outs. One thing is sure Sam’s pocket don’t bulge anymore, as he is not a Minister, but the 300 branch chiefs must change their thinking.
KUALA LUMPUR: The race for the MIC party president has begun with MIC Klang division chief’s decision to contest.
P. Thiagarasan, 54, or better known as Alex Thiagarasan, told the New Straits Times yesterday that he was vying for the post held for the past 29 years by Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
“I think that I’m worthy of the president’s post. But, if there is a better candidate, then I would make way for the person. I will instead vie for the deputy or vice-president’s post,” he said.
Thiagarasan, who unsuccessfully contested a vice-president’s post in the last party election, also called for abolishing the quota system of getting nominations from at least 300 branch chiefs to make a bid for the party’s presidency.
He said there must be a concerted attempt to unseat Samy Vellu if he had not gone by the next election, which was not due until next March.Thiagarasan, who was formerly a People’s Progressive Party Selangor chief in 1997, left with nearly 24,000 members and joined the MIC two years later following a dispute with PPP president Datuk M. Kayveas.
Among those who have contested against Samy Vellu for the party’s presidency include Y. Thomas, former MIC deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam, Kapar division chairman S. Subramaniam, better known as Jumbo Maniam and former Lobak branch chairman R. Vellasamy.
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