Plots faze me not, says Palanivel

In an exclusive interview with FMT, the MIC president talks about his rumoured rocky relationship with his deputy Dr S Subramaniam and the upcoming general election.

PETALING JAYA: Grapevine has it that the relationship between the top two leaders is not something to toast about and behind the public exhibitions of camraderie, daggers are drawn.

When the question was posed to MIC president G Palanivel, the initial response was an outright denial. But after a little prodding, his subsequent remarks suggested that perhaps all was not well.

News filtering out from the inner circle, however, claimed that a battle was being waged.

Palanivel became the acting president late last year when his predecessor S Samy Vellu decided to relinquish the throne after three decades.

Througout his years in MIC, the deeply religious and vegetarian leader was seen as the president’s man, starting as Samy Vellu’s press secretary and later rising up the ranks to become number two. His achievements were attributed to his mentor’s influence.

Fatigued by an hectic schedule but still in high spirits, the journalist-turned-politician addressed these issues during an exclusive interview with FMT at the swanky Bukit Kiara equestrian club.

‘We hear things…’

According to the MIC president, his ties with the second-in-command and Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam was cordial but at the same time expressed confidence of emerging victorious in the event of any such tussles.

“He is nice with me. I was the person who brought him in. I made him a MP and secretary-general. All this is not an issue for me. Politicians will always have issues, but as far as I am concerned, it doesn’t even register on my mind,” he said, flashing a smile.

When told that talk was rife that both he and Subramaniam were allegedly plotting each other’s downfall, Palanivel stressed that he was not aiming for the medical doctor’s jugular.

“I don’t not know (about) that, but I am not plotting his downfall,” he said.

Asked if Subramaniam was working to end his political career, the president replied: “We hear things… but these things have to sell first. If you don’t have a selling point, whatever plot you do, will not be successful.”

“Every leader needs a selling point. I have sold myself very well to the community and the party. So the party will not go against me,” he added.

Palanivel also dimissed talk of a rift between him and Samy Vellu who, certain quarters claimed, was miffed with his successor’s leadership style and certain decisions.

“There is no rift. He is busy with his own circle and I am busy with my own circle… we don’t have time for each other now,” he said, breaking into laughter.

However, the president made it crystal clear that he was steering MIC in a different direction and not sailing along the route charted by his predecessor.

“This is a new MIC, we can mobilise the people. When the PM (Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak) came to the Mines Convention Centre (for the Tamil New Year celebration), 25,000 people attended.

“They came on their own. We organised it, we gave food to everyone. But those who came were not all MIC members, they were outsiders. Wherever we go now, we are facing the public, we are not facing our members… we have come out of that syndrome.

“We are building our relationship with the public. The public was left out, professionals were left out, seniors were left out. We are now trying to touch base with these groups,” he added.

Palanivel also lent credence to the rumours that former vice-president S Sothinathan was poised to make a comeback, and perhaps even form an alliance to vie for the number two post in the next party election.

In the last party polls, Sothinathan came out last in a three-cornered bout for the deputy president post against Palanivel and another S Subramaniam.

Speaking about the party’s candidates for the upcoming general election, Palanivel said that Sothinathan, the former Teluk Kemang MP, was working hard in that constituency.

Asked if he would be fielded, the president replied: “He is definitely candidate material.”

‘Sabotaged in Hulu Selangor’

As for himself, Palanivel, who was appointed senator last year and recently evelated to a full minister, revealed that he would “most probably” contest in the general election.

“I have not decided where to contest but I will most probably contest. My main focus is to bring back Indian votes. To bring back votes, the government must address all our problems,” he said.

A grim-faced Palanivel also claimed that he was sabotaged during last year’s Hulu Selangor by-election when he was not named as the candidate for that parliamentary seat, which he had held prior to his narrow defeat in the 2008 general election.

“That was sabotage, nothing else. Pure sabotage. Until the previous day, I was the candidate, the next day I was not the candidate,” he said, declining to reveal the hands behind the plot.

“I wouldn’t say who sabotaged it. All I know is that they carried out an intensive campaign against me. If I had stood (in the by-election), I would have won,” he added.

After a period of uncertainty, Barisan Nasional named MIC’s P Kamalanathan as the candidate and the latter defeated former PKR member Zaid Ibrahim in the by-election.

New faces in election line-up

Elaborating on MIC’s candidates for the general election, Palanivel said that it would be imprudent to reveal the names at this juncture as it could lead to some quarters sabotaging the candidates.

However, he said that new faces would be included.

“I personally believe that those who have served two terms as elected reps or in the senate or one term in the senate or elected as state assemblymen, they must learn to give way.

“(But) we cannot make the mistake of fielding all new faces, we may lose the general election. We must put familiar faces who are already branded in the party and community.

“Some incumbents will be left to defend their seats. Because if they have (government) positions, those positions give them weight,” he added.

In the last general election, MIC was dealt a devastating blow, losing six out of nine parliamentary seats and 12 out of 19 state seats. Apart from Palanivel, even Samy Vellu was vanquished in his stronghold of Sungai Siput.

MIC’s current four MPs are deputy president Subramaniam (Segamat) and vice-presidents SK Devamany (Cameron Highlands), M Saravanan (Tapah) and Kamalanathan (Hulu Selangor).

Below are excerpts from the interview:

You have been criticised as being media shy.

I have given many interviews to the media, but I don’t want to over-publicise myself. I don’t want to be a daily diarrohea, purging here and there. I must only talk on the right issues at the right time. I cannot be talking on all the issues and not deliver. Whatever I say, I do it.

The critics have compared you to Samy Vellu, who was always in the limelight.

He was a different cup of coffee, I am a different cup of coffee. He had a powerful ministry so he could issue statements on a daily basis. I have to look after the community – this is the biggest burden I am facing. My daily job is looking after the community, not the government. I have inherited a disempowered community. I have to build them back… my working hours are very long. I am not publicity shy, I don’t want to be publicity crazy.

You have also been criticised for postponing the presidential elections. Some have asked you to seek a mandate to prove yourself.

Umno, MCA… had made the decision (to pospone party polls until after the general election). So we made a similar decision. When we are going for a general election, it will be a calamity to hold a party election… there will be war on the ground.

Are you confident of being elected as president if the presidential polls is held now?

I have been a longtime fellow in the party (laughs). Every MIC chairman is known to me. There are a few fellows (critics), that is not important to me. I have been in touch with hundreds of MIC chairmen, they all know me, I am not a new guy.

You have also been criticised for accepting the ministerial post, which is considered a backdoor entry into the corridors of power.

All this (those saying this) are my ‘enemies’ and badmouthers (laughs). I can’t be bothered about them. The Indians needed two ministers and there are no two ways about this. I am a long-serving politician, I am not a newcomer in the scene. I am a four-term MP; it was due to some bad fortune that I lost narrowly (in the general election).

There are also those who claim that you are under the control of party veteran KS Nijhar and he calls the shots.

No, no, no. There is no such thing. I control the party. Nijhar has good ideas, he always gives ideas but we don’t accept all ideas.

What about the Interlok issue, MIC has been seen as having failed…

No, no, we didn’t fail. We put up a good fight. When they wanted to bring back the book, by just removing one or two words, I stood my ground. Finally, in the last meeting in Parliament, I stood my ground and they agreed to withdraw all those sensitive words. And then they told the schools to use adhesive tapes to blacken out (the offensive words). I gave a very powerful statement and they were shaken up.

But your initial stand was to have the book revoked.

Initially, I didn’t make that stand, I just wanted that word (pariah) removed. Initially, it was only that word. But when a pandemonium broke out, I wanted the whole book looked at very carefully and I made the statement that it should be withdrawn. Then when the disagreements and agreements took place, they wanted to have the book reviewed… and then again they were adamant on not wanting to remove some words. I told them ‘no’… finally they agreed to all.

The mistake was instead of introducing a new book (edited version), they wanted to use adhesive tapes and blacken out the words, that was when I lost my cool. Now I think, this issue… we should look into the future, I am confident this book will not be used in schools in the coming years. If this is being cited as a big issue, how did we win in Tenang, Merlimau and Kerdau (by-elections)? The Indian votes did not run away. They (the voters) couldn’t be bothered about these fellows. At that time it was a hot issue, they held protest there, they burned the books and so many things, they went house to house, but the Indians didn’t bother. These fellows are just exploiting the issue, they are trying to get a name for themselves.

Will former deputy president S Subramaniam make a comeback?

He has a good relationship with me. But we have not dicussed seats (for the general election). All these decisions I will make at the last moment. The party president decides everything, just like during Samy Vellu’s time and Manikavasagam’s time.

Who will contest in Sungai Siput? Many names have cropped up, including that of MIC Youth chief T Mohan and central working committee member S Vell Paari (Samy Vellu’s son).

Perak Menteri Besar (Zambry Abdul Kadir) has been calling me to contest in Sungai Siput. Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar (Mohamed Hasan) wants me to contest in Teluk Kemang. Everybody is a pontential candidate. But finally, we have to make a good choice.

Are you confident of wresting back Sungai Siput?

If we work in the right direction, we can win both Sungai Siput and Teluk Kemang… if we put the right candidates.

Part two of the interview will be published tomorrow.