The MIC polls on Saturday will decide the direction of the party and will be a test of Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu's grip on the party going into his final term after 33 years almost unchallenged as the president.
A determined Samy Vellu has assembled his own team in incumbent deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel, who is defending his post, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, Datuk S.K. Devamany and Datuk M. Saravanan to clinch all the three vice-president tickets and any 23 of 27 candidates for the 23 seats in the central working committee (CWC).
Former deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam and vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan, both of whom are going for the No. 2 post, and several other candidates have called for change and they believe that that can only be possible if Palanivel is defeated to weaken Samy Vellu.
The losses suffered by the MIC at the last general election could weigh on the balloting pattern.
This makes the election probably the most tense and most watched in the 63-year history of the MIC.
Campaigning officially ended at noon today but the wooing of the 1,464 delegates is expected to continue into the wee hours of tomorrow right until voting time.
A Selangor delegate who declined to be identified said MIC members and the Indian community in general wanted leaders who can boldly voice out the aspirations of the Indian community and also work well with other component parties so that the party would regain its respect.
Another Klang Valley delegate said the MIC faced the task of regaining the support of the Indian community.
"In the last general election, the MIC lost many seats because the community turned to vote opposition candidates," he said.
Party veteran and vice-president Datuk S. Veerasingham is for Samy Vellu's team. "Everyone wants to try the catchy word 'change' which has been used by (US president Barack) Obama. Samy Vellu's request to the delegates is to vote those he endorsed so that they can work with him," he said.
Universiti Putra Malaysia lecturer M. Neelamegham said that while change was the key word for most of the candidates, they had failed to focus on what type of change they were talking about.
He said whatever the change, emphasis must be on more opportunities for youth members and empowerment of MIC state leaders.
"Even until now MIC has come out with so much of planning, (but) they have to implement it and focus on their future programmes," he said.
Universiti Sains Malaysia senior lecturer M. Sivamurugan said that in making their decision, the delegates should look at the characters of the candidates and focus on the need to strengthen the party following the near wipe-out at the last general election.
"The changes are very important and should be drastic ... the party and members have to prepare for the next general election," he said.
Another attention grabber will be the race for the 23 CWC slots for which the president has endorsed 27 of the 63 contenders.
"This election is going to be a disappointment for Samy Vellu because many candidates who are not in his list will likely win," said a woman delegate.
Samy Vellu retained the top post unopposed in March for a record 11th consecutive term that will end in 2012.
THE BEGINNING OF NEW ERA IN MIC .
NOW AT THIS MOMENT WE ARE LOOKING AT A LEADER WITH A MISSION AND VISION.
SHARES A DREAM AND DIRECTION THAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO SHARE AND FOLLOW.
A LEADER WHO CAN CLEARLY ARTICULATE WHY WERE DOING, WHAT WERE DOING, TO FACE NEW CHALLENGES AND DEMANDS FROM THE RAKYAT. THE 1MALAYSIA WAY.
1 comments:
Vanakkam Brother Punithan, as an Indian I'm sick and tired of non Indians telling us what to do. When they carried the cow's head we did nothing and turned the other cheek. Now they are telling the leader of the 1.8 million Indians in Malaysia to apologize to Dr. Mahathir for what one person said.
I read this blogger whom I assume to be a MCA blogger A PIECE OF MY MIND writing this:
As for now, I am joining the calls of the blogosphere in asking MIC to apologize to Tun Dr Mahathir for the insults and criticisms by the President and a MIC leader.
Today, we hear news that an MIC leader wants to garland Tun Mahathir's portrait with slippers. Such a level of disrespect if carried out, should be sent into political retirement with a letter of membership termination.
Given that he paid lip service only, the matter should be handle in the same way UMNO handled Datuk Ahmad Ismail's case.
Suspend the man and MIC should send an official apology to Tun Mahathir ! A PIECE OF MY MIND hopes to see some action taken soon.
Read other bloggers' take :
1. APANAMA2020 - Who is the bloody bastard ?
2. Rockybru - Was the garland your idea, M Muniandy ?
Follow this link and read more here http://manifestogwl.blogspot.com/2009/09/mic-should-apologize-to-dr-m.html
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