MIC vice-president S Veerasingam will not defend his post in the election on Sept 12 but will use his post in the Perak government to rebuild support for the state MIC, which was nearly wiped out in the March 8 general election.

Veerasingam was appointed by Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir as the special adviser for Indian affairs on par with the post of executive councillor, after Barisan Nasional (BN) took over the state government in February.

NONEVeerasingam (right), who was defeated in the Sungkai state seat by DAP's A Sivanesan, had previously held several posts in the BN cabinet.

He now intends to nurse the badly-mauled Perak MIC to full health and win back the support of the Indian Malaysian community before the next state and general elections.

Veerasingam said party president S Samy Vellu had asked if he would defend the vice-presidency.

"The state government has tenure of office for another three years or so and I want to solely concentrate on rebuilding the party at state level into a formidable one," he said.

"If I defend my vice-president's post and I win, I will have to criss-cross the nation and will not have the time to concentrate on the party at state level."

Veerasingam has always been the president's man and has toed the party line to climb the ladder in a relatively short time.

His decision makes the passage easier for the president's men who are vying for the three vice-president slots.

The three are Human Resources Minister and party secretary-general S Subramaniam, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and party treasurer-general SK Devamany and Deputy Federal Territories Minister and MIC Information chief M Saravanan.

Samy Vellu's selection of these younger leaders, who are part of the cabinet, is set to usher the second echelon onto the main stage of MIC politics.

'New-wave leader'

In a related development, MIC Wanita deputy chief S Thangasvari, 61, is said to be eyeing the wing's top post.

NONEThangasvari (right) is set to challenge her incumbent boss P Komala Devi at the Wanita delegates conference on Aug 16.

A total of 572 delegates will vote in the election.

Thangaswari is projecting herself as a new-wave leader who will work closely with the grassrootss to solve outstanding problems affecting the community, especially women.

She is the Perak MIC Wanita chief and has planned projects that will uplift the social and economic standing of Indian women.

Asked about her prospects in the contest that is expected to be a three-cornered fight, she said: "My chances are good based on the feedback that I got when I criss-crossed the nation in my election campaign recently.

NONE"I have to put the Indian community, especially the women on par with those of other races as, all along, they have not been given due recognition but have been treated like second-class citizens."

Her running mate is Negri Sembilan Wanita chief Dr P Tanaletchumy (left) who shares her views on women's rights and enhancing skills among women.

Thangasvari believes that she has the solid support of Wanita delegates from Perak, Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Pahang and hopes to make inroads into other states where her chances are said to be 50-50.