The Muthu factor in Samy's exit plan

MIC president S Samy Vellu very eagerly wants to consolidate his position as the party chief in the coming party polls later this year.

The only contender for the post – former vice-president M Muthupalaniappan – was unilaterally removed altogether from the party after a brief 30-minute disciplinary hearing for allegedly criticising the party and Samy Vellu in an interview in the media, including the one given to Malaysiakini.

Never mind his reinstatement to the party by the powerful central working committee (CWC) today.

Many in the party think - wrongly or rightly - Muthupalaniappan will not dislodge Samy Vellu, who is gunning for a record 11th term as the president.

Samy Vellu first assumed the post in 1979 and since then has maintained a strong grip on the party and its members.

In fact, almost every leader in the party – be it at the state or federal level – owe it to Samy Vellu for their positions in the party and in the government.

With such a tight control over the party, its members and all the branches, it was nevertheless a mystery as to why Muthupalaniappan was sacked from the party in the first place, which many believe was made just to stop him from contesting for the top post.

Was Samy Vellu really afraid that Muthupalaniappan could have defeated him? No one knows for sure.

But what is clear is that the party and the president have earned a black mark for the manner the Muthupalaniappan matter was handled.

What was wrong with criticising the party leadership, especially when Samy Vellu has promised massive changes in the party to make it more relevant and to be in tune with what the community wants?

The sacking simply ran contrary to all claims of rebranding as envisioned by Samy Vellu.

The reinstatement of Muthupalaniappan today only stresses the mistake of the sacking glaringly.

Will Subramaniam challenge?

Samy Vellu is right. It was not him who sacked Muthupalaniappan. It was the disciplinary board, a board which was headed by a Samy Vellu loyalist.

And it was not him who brought back Muthupalaniappan today. It was a CWC chaired by deputy president G Palanivel.

But still the question lingers as to the real reason for the sacking.

Maybe, just like what another veteran leader M Mahalingam had said once – that no one - no matter how close the person is to the president - knows why Samy Vellu is doing something. Mahalingam had said that Samy Vellu has his own way of thinking.

This remark came just after the March general elections when Samy Vellu and MIC were routed by the voters and many party elders believe it was this remark that soured the relationship between Samy Vellu and Mahalingam. But that’s another story altogether.

Samy Vellu was reported as saying in the media that he was ready for a fight for the top post, come what may.

He now looks set to have an easier ride, pending any last minute contender.

There is still some hope among party cadres that Samy Vellu’s former nemesis S Subramaniam would take the chance to go for the top post after having failed twice before.

However ties between the two are now more cordial, with the party only very recently accepting almost all sacked or suspended branches back into its fold.

Among those who were given the green light to come back into the party was businessman and Klang grassroots leader KP Samy.

Samy and many other leaders who were aligned to Subramaniam were kicked out of the party last year.

But with their entry back into the fold – and back into the good books of Samy Vellu – it looks highly doubtful if they or their leader Subramaniam will challenge Samy Vellu for the top post.

Samy’s well-laid plans

What makes the whole scenario interesting is that despite the various attempts to ensure a contest-free election for Samy Vellu, the man himself has said that he would be handing over his reins to his deputy – whoever it may be - in September.

That means, assuming that the party presidential election is held in May as expected, Samy Vellu will only be holding office for four months.

If that is the case, why then go through such trouble to win his post uncontested?

Party insiders say there are two reasons for this.

First, Samy Vellu wants to avoid any fluke defeat to Muthupalaniappan. He is still reminded of his embarrassing defeat in his Sungai Siput seat last March after having been its MP since 1974.

Secondly, he wants to clean up several things in the party, especially the accounts of the party and its subsidiary bodies.

Added to this is his effort to ensure the party is not burdened by any debt, especially the RM220 million it owes to Bank Pembangunan for the party-run AIMST University.

Samy Vellu thinks he can do this in the four months and hand over a clean slate to his deputy.

And for him to be able to do that, he does not need the encumbrance of having to contest to retain his position. And neither does he want to face a possible humiliating defeat or a humbling narrow victory.

All of these - especially Muthupalaniappan's reinstatement today - could well derail his well-laid plans for the party.