Samy: Umno cannot decide who helms MIC

Even his critics acknowledge that MIC president S Samy Vellu is a master strategist and fearless politician who does not bow to pressure, not even from Umno.

Although all sorts of allegations have been levelled against him over the years, it is these traits that have ensured his continued presence at the helm of the party for almost three decades.

He was returned as president for a record 11th term in March amid cries of foul play from his sole challenger M Muthupalaniappan, who has since called a truce.

But after MIC suffered a near fatal blow in the last general election which also saw the president losing his parliamentary stronghold of Sungai Siput, it was rumoured that Umno was vexed.

Speculations were rife that pressure started mounting from Umno for the 73-year-old MIC chief to step down. It was also said that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is in favour of this.

'Nobody can tell us what to do'

When Malaysiakini popped this question to Samy Vellu during an interview at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, the seasoned politician stressed that external forces cannot interfere in MIC's affairs.

"Nobody has the right to decide who should be the president of MIC. It is against the rules, it is against the understanding (of Barisan Nasional).

"The understanding is that one doesn't intervene in the affairs of another component party. This party can have anybody as president for as long as they (the members) want," he said.

"Nobody can tells us what to do," he added with an air of defiance.

Samy Vellu explained that he initially thought about calling it quits but decided to remain until the end of his term in 2012 to set the house in order.

"I found that things are not going in the right manner. This party is disintegrating and I got to keep the party (intact). My party is more important to me, which I have built for the last 29 years," he added.

The president was responding to rumours that he would be announcing an early departure date later today.

It's Subramaniam who should retire

Samy Vellu then accused his favourite whipping boy and former deputy S Subramaniam - who would be attempting to reclaim the post in this Saturday's party elections - of spreading such rumours.

"This is part of the games that Subramaniam and his kakis (cohorts) play. By right Subramaniam should retire from politics because he is of no use to anyone.

"I still have a lot of things to do so I plan to retire by 2012 as promised," he said.

When told that Subramaniam has urged him to stick to his original promise of stepping down once the deputy president was elected, Samy Vellu replied: "He is nobody to dictate anything to me. He is just an ordinary (MIC) division chairman like anybody else."

Continuing the salvo, he said: "Subramaniam thinks he is very smart. He thinks that if he becomes the deputy president, he can pressure me (to step down). If he pressures me, he will know what he will face."

"If you are elected as deputy president, that is the mandate they have given you. I was elected (as president) with a better mandate than yourself.

"I will stay for the period that I am elected. You have no right to dictate to me, (about) why I am elected and how long I should stay. I will stay as long as I like," he said.

"Originally I thought that I should retire earlier but... I have to finish the total cleaning up of the party and hand it over to the new man," he added.

However, Samy Vellu said he remained firm in his decision not to contest in the next general election.

Tomorrow: In the second part of the interview, Samy Vellu talks about the coming party polls and continues his tongue lashing at Subramaniam. Among others, he tells his ex-deputy to join the 'Mr Malaysia' contest if he considers himself youthful looking.