Tuesday September 22, 2009
I’ll go tomorrow if Palanivel is ready, says Samy
By G. MANIMARAN
PETALING JAYA: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said he was prepared to hand over the leadership of the party “tomorrow” if his deputy Datuk G. Palanivel was ready to take over.
“I am ready to let go (of the position). Even tomorrow, if Palanivel thinks he is ready to take over the party leadership.
“It is not like I want to hold on to this post forever,’’ he told mStar Online.
Samy Vellu, who became the party acting president in 1979 before being elected as MIC president in 1981, was re-elected for his 11th consecutive term in April.
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 Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri 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 Samy Vellu.
However, Samy 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 said.
Samy Vellu said he would contact the Prime Minister’s office next week to fix a date and time for the meeting.
Former vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan, who contested against Palanivel for the deputy presidency and lost, hoped that the party’s succession issue would be addressed quickly.
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