Samy poised for ‘one last kill’?

The former MIC strongman is growing upset with his successor, and a confrontation may be in the making.

EXCLUSIVE

KUALA LUMPUR: Under the stewardship of its new captain, MIC, once a mighty vessel, later bruised and battered in the 2008 electoral battle, has now, according to critics, turned stealth.

The party appears to have dipped below the political radar, and when it does surface, it is often for the wrong reasons.

But that is the characteristics of G Palanivel.

Not one to rock the boat, the deeply religious leader will do his best to chart a course free of conflict, and the pacifists laud him for this diplomatic trait.

He is the direct opposite of his predecessor, S Samy Vellu. Perhaps, the only similarity between them is that the two are vegetarians.

The previous captain is a swashbuckler, like his family deity, the sword-brandishing “Mathurai Veeran”, he is always poised for a fight. Those who toe the line are protected, while those who cross it, are beheaded.

The “old man”, a term which he detests, thrives on controversies, remarked a former aide.

Tension reaches boiling point

Now, a source claims, the tension between the predecessor and successor has reached boiling point, and if left unchecked, it may see Samy Vellu sharpening his blade again, for one last kill.

There are those in his circle who are coaxing him to give Palanivel a chance, that with the right advice, the latter can be persuaded to see things in a different light. But Samy Vellu remains skeptical.

Despite the repeated public denials of a rift between the two, the source said the relationship between the former minister and his one-time press secretary is now at its “lowest ebb”.

“Samy Vellu is biting his lip and keeping quiet out of respect. But if things don’t change, he will make them change and there may be an open war.

“The former president does not like the new president’s style of running the party. During his 30 years as president, Samy Vellu was in absolute control, he spoke, and the rest listened.

“But Palanivel is delegating his tasks to everyone else and Samy Vellu thinks the party and the Indian community will suffer because of this. The Interlok controversy is a classic example.

“Samy Vellu feels that instead of ‘sub-contracting’ the issue to others to handle, MIC should have taken charge from start to end to resolve it, and not play hide and seek.”

The source also revealed that Samy Vellu is sore with the decision to reinstate four party members he sacked last year to their previous positions.

“While he has no grouse with them being readmitted as members, he disagrees with the move to reinstate them to their posts. That and the postponement of the presidential polls have upset him.

“Come December 2011, the post of president will automatically become vacant as stipulated by the party constitution, to postpone the election is unconstitutional.”

‘Singh is King in MIC’

According to the source, a senior party leader now has direct access to the president’s ear, and it is this person who is controlling the party while Palanivel is merely “tapping his feet to the Hindi tune.”

“This leader has vested interests, he is eyeing some government positions and has an axe to grind with Samy Vellu. So he is using Palanivel to achieve his goals. He is the ‘real’ president of MIC.”

Although the source refused to mention the name of the leader, it is an open secret that he was referring to former vice-president KS Nijhar.

A SMS is also being widely circulated claiming that “Singh is King in MIC” alluding to Nijhar who is of Punjabi descent.

Commenting on this issue, another party leader asked when Nijhar will retire and questioned his contribution to the party and Indian community.

“His peers have all retired. Why is he still sticking around, when he is above 70?

“This guy has done nothing for the community, all he does is whistle a popular Hindi song during the party’s annual general meetings. He also thinks he is smarter than the rest of us.”

Contacted by FMT, Nijhar rubbished the allegations. “I am just an appointed leader. I don’t know what these fellows are talking about.”

The source said MIC is now split into two camps and some leaders are afraid to come to the first floor of the party headquarters where Samy Vellu’s office is located.

“They are worried of being branded as Samy Vellu’s man if they show their face there.”

The source said Samy Vellu is now touching base with the party’s grassroots leaders, especially branch chairmen, who vote in the presidential election.

“Like it or not, the ‘old man’ still has clout in the party, and if push comes to shove, he may just back (deputy president) Dr S Subramaniam in the presidential polls and finish off Palanivel.

“After all, where will Palanivel be today if not for Samy Vellu? He made him and he can also break him if he wanted to. So a time-bomb is ticking in the party.”

‘Palanivel democratising MIC’

Speaking to FMT, a Palanivel supporter defended the president, saying that he is merely democratising a party which has endured three decades of iron-clad rule.

“Samy Vellu and his loyalists fear Palanivel, they know their grip is slipping and a new order has been put in place, the new president is open and respects democratic principles.

“For Samy Vellu, it has always been an issue of caste politics, but Palanivel does not practice this, he has opened up the party to all, and the former president does not like this.”

The supporter, who wished to remain anonymous, also said that Palanivel was flooded with “hundreds of SMS”when he decided to readmit and reinstate the sacked members.

“He is not undoing whatever Samy Vellu has done, he is merely looking forward and taking the party in a new direction. The Indian community is also receptive towards this.

“Let me tell you this, if Palanivel is to call for a presidential election tomorrow, nobody can touch him and that is the truth of the matter.”