Samy steps aside: Four-cornered fight for No 2?
Published: Jun 18, 2009 6:55 PM | Updated: Jun 18, 2009 7:00 PM
The contest for the MIC deputy presidency might see a four-cornered fight with party president S Samy Vellu saying today that he would not prevent anyone from running for the post.
The contest for the MIC deputy presidency might see a four-cornered fight with the party president saying he will not prevent anyone from running for the post.
The contest for the MIC deputy presidency might see a four-cornered fight with party president S Samy Vellu saying today that he would not prevent anyone from running for the post.
"Anybody could contest but what is more important is the way they are going to campaign," he told reporters after chairing the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
He was asked if MIC leaders, including those holding cabinet positions such as Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam could also contest the post.
Samy Vellu's announcement today could pave the way for Subramaniam to vie for the party’s number two post.
To-date, former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam and vice-president S Sothinathan have announced their candidacy for the post.
Incumbent deputy president G Palanivel has yet to announce if he would seek reelection, but he is expected to defend his post
Subramaniam, who is also the MIC secretary-general has yet to announce his candidacy for any post in the Sept 12 party elections although he has received backing from the grassroot who felt that he should contest the post.
'As long as delegates have a choice'
According to a source, Subramaniam had yet to decide on the matter and would discuss with Samy Vellu first.
Other posts up for grab were the three vice-president and 23 CWC members.
Samy Vellu, who has announced that this would be his last term and whoever wins the deputy presidency would take over the party, said it did not matter if the battle for the number two post was going to be a "two-cornered, four-cornered or six-cornered fight" as long as the delegates had a choice.
He also said that he had yet to decide whom he would endorse for the deputy president’s post although speculation is rife that he is backing Palanivel.
Samy Vellu also said that former MIC Youth chief SA Vignersawan and three other former Youth members who left the party last year, have now requested to return to the party fold.
"They met me recently and told me that they wanted to return to MIC and I accepted their request," he said, adding that the CWC endorsed their applications to rejoin MIC.
Samy Vellu also said the party would set up a Leadership Institute to train future leaders from amongst the younger generation.
"Anybody could contest but what is more important is the way they are going to campaign," he told reporters after chairing the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur.He was asked if MIC leaders, including those holding cabinet positions such as Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam could also contest the post.
Samy Vellu's announcement today could pave the way for Subramaniam to vie for the party’s number two post.
To-date, former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam and vice-president S Sothinathan have announced their candidacy for the post.
Incumbent deputy president G Palanivel has yet to announce if he would seek reelection, but he is expected to defend his post
Subramaniam, who is also the MIC secretary-general has yet to announce his candidacy for any post in the Sept 12 party elections although he has received backing from the grassroot who felt that he should contest the post.
'As long as delegates have a choice'
According to a source, Subramaniam had yet to decide on the matter and would discuss with Samy Vellu first.Other posts up for grab were the three vice-president and 23 CWC members.
Samy Vellu, who has announced that this would be his last term and whoever wins the deputy presidency would take over the party, said it did not matter if the battle for the number two post was going to be a "two-cornered, four-cornered or six-cornered fight" as long as the delegates had a choice.
He also said that he had yet to decide whom he would endorse for the deputy president’s post although speculation is rife that he is backing Palanivel.
Samy Vellu also said that former MIC Youth chief SA Vignersawan and three other former Youth members who left the party last year, have now requested to return to the party fold.
"They met me recently and told me that they wanted to return to MIC and I accepted their request," he said, adding that the CWC endorsed their applications to rejoin MIC.
Samy Vellu also said the party would set up a Leadership Institute to train future leaders from amongst the younger generation.
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