Kuala Lumpur: Samy Vellu, leader of country`s largest ethnic party, MIC has said that he is prepared to hand over the leadership of the party immediately if his deputy is ready to take over.
"I am ready to let go (of the position). Even tomorrow, if Deputy President G Palanivel is ready to take over the party leadership," 73-year-old Vellu, who has been at the helm
of MIC for almost three decades, said.
"It is not like I want to hold on to this post forever," Vellu, who was elected unopposed for another term as party president in March told online edition of Star newspaper.
Vellu, who became the party`s acting president in 1979 before being elected as MIC president in 1981, was re-elected for his 11th consecutive term in March.
The former Works Minister said he would have a discussion with Palanivel when the latter returned from India. "I will meet him to discuss this ... to ask if he is ready to take
over as president," he added.
Palanivel successfully defended his deputy president`s post in the recent party elections on Sept 12.
Prime Minister and ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Najib Tun Razak said on Sunday that he wanted to meet the MIC president again to discuss the party`s transition plan following heavy criticisms against Vellu.
However, Vellu reiterated that the party would face many problems if he were to step down now.
He said the top leadership line-up was "still fresh" although they had been old faces in the party. "They may be old faces in the party (as members) but they are a new
leadership line-up which had just been elected," he was quoted as saying.
Vellu said he would contact the Prime Minister`s office next week to fix a date and time for the meeting. The BN chief said the former works minister had met him in June to discuss the MIC leadership.
"He had outlined his plan to me. At that time, he said it was not possible for him to go as it would leave the MIC in an unstable situation."
"But now that the party elections are over, it is possible for Vellu and me to discuss the future of the MIC in the context of Barisan Nasional without being seen as
interfering in the party`s affairs."
MIC is an important component of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
Asked if he saw Vellu leading the MIC for much longer, Najib said it was not proper for him to speculate. "I will discuss with him. I don`t want to make it public because the
discussion will be in confidence."
Last week, former premier Mahathir Mohammed described Samy Vellu as a liability to BN`s effort to win back the ethnic Indian community`s support.
The MIC fared badly in last year`s general polls after many ethnic Indians supported the opposition, complaining that the MIC had not done enough for the minority community in the past so many years.
However, within MIC, the president appeared to strengthen his hold when a majority of the candidates endorsed by him swept party polls last week.
Bureau Report
