Samy-Subra alliance : trouble brewing?
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 13, 2008
RK Anand

The move by MIC president S Samy Vellu and his former estranged deputy S Subramaniam to cast aside their differences to rebuild the party has angered some supporters. MCPX

subramaniam samy vellu and micSources said many of Subramaniam's supporters are peeved that he made the decision without a proper succession plan in place.

"His supporters have no problems with Subramaniam taking over the party and rebuilding it. But they do not like the idea of him working together with Samy Vellu.

"Too much has been said and done over the past 30 years to bury the hatchet just like that. They want him to be president but what is being read between the lines now is that Subramaniam is helping his former nemesis revive his battered political career," they said.

His supporters feel that Subramaniam might as well start a new party and build it from scratch rather than making this "rash decision in the absence of concrete measures," added the sources.

Maika Holdings

Furthermore, sources also pointed out that there are many outstanding issues which have not been ironed out. "A prime example is Maika Holdings," they said.

Maika is the troubled investment arm of MIC helmed by Samy Vellu's son Vel Paari.

Subramaniam has been one of the leading figures in championing the cause of its shareholders, who have accused Maika of shortchanging them on their investment.

"An injunction was also filed by Nesa corporation (of which Subramaniam is president) against the sale of Maika's only profit making company Overseas Capital Assurance Berhad (OCAB) and the injunction has been granted.

"So what happens to the shareholders now? Will Nesa drop the case? Should it do this, it will only anger the community further," said the sources.

Another problem is positions in the party. "Who will decide on this, Samy Vellu or Subramaniam? Will it be Samy's men or Subra's men?" asked the sources.

"Both leaders should have sorted out these issues before announcing that they have reconciled their differences.

"Subramaniam's supporters feel that Samy Vellu should have announced his resignation and call for an early presidential elections and endorse Subramaniam as his choice for the top post.

"At the moment, there is nobody else in the party who can rebuild it following its onslaught in the March 8 polls. There is already talk of MIC grassroots joining PKR and this decision by Subramaniam may also motivate some of his supporters to do the same," said the sources.

Future in the balance

On that note, some of Subramaniam's supporters also feel that MIC has no future and that the former deputy president should move to PKR.

anwar permatang pauh polling day 080308 anwar"In the past, people did not see a future in PKR or its leader Anwar Ibrahim. But after the elections, they realise there is a possibility of BN (Barisan Nasional) being toppled and Anwar becoming prime minister.

"Furthermore, with MIC losing support from the very community the party was set up to serve is as good as sealing its fate," said the sources.

However, a close aide to Subramaniam revealed that the 62-year-old politician has made it clear to his supporters that he will never turn his back on BN.

An observer also pointed out that with the opposition offering Indians high positions in its newly formed state governments, MIC and BN will have a hard time convincing the community of their relevance.

"The most MIC could get was one full minister post. But now DAP has appointed an Indian deputy chief minister. So people are wondering if the country may have an Indian deputy prime minister if the opposition parties come into power," he said.

Leadership not an issue

Meanwhile, MIC information chief M Saravanan welcomed the alliance and dismissed the suggestion that it can spark off another leadership tussle in the party.

m saravanan mic info chief"This is a good move, it shows that both the leaders are concerned about the party," he said when contacted this afternoon.

"Now is not the time to think about party elections and leadership, the focus is on winning back the Indian community. None of us should be thinking about who will be taking over. Anybody who thinks like that is not a true MIC man," he added.

Saravanan - who won the Tapah parliamentary seat - stressed that all quarters must now put their resources together to rebuild the party.

MIC lost six out of nine parliamentary seats and 12 out of 19 state seats. Its president, deputy president, two vice-presidents, youth chief and women's wing chief were also defeated.

Samy Vellu and Subramaniam had been bitter rivals for nearly three decades. The feud culminated in the latter losing the number two post to the president's choice - G Palanivel - in the 2006 party elections. 

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