Samy Vellu: Subra’s defection is no big deal to MIC

(Bernama) – MIC is not affected by former vice-president SS Subramaniam's departure from the party, MIC president S Samy Vellu said.

He said the party was not disappointed with the move as the former vice-president had not contributed much in the struggle to champion the cause of the Indian community.

"We don't see it as a loss. In fact, what he has done is a 'good thing'," he said when asked to comment on matter before opening the Penang MIC convention here Sunday.

SS Subramaniam announced on Saturday that he had joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat and that 10 MIC branches with 1,700 members in the Klang Valley would follow suit in the near future.

Samy Vellu denied the claim and said that only 300 members were involved.

'He is just bragging'

"He is just bragging. MIC is capable of attracting even more new members especially among the young," he said, adding that it was not impossible for those who had joined PKR to leave for other parties in the future.

Meanwhile, Samy Vellu said the MIC was mulling over amending the party's constitution to set the minimum number of members to form a MIC branch.

"At the moment, the minimum number is 110 members. After the general assembly on Sept 12-13, the number will be lowered to 60," he said, adding that the move would enable more Indians to join the party and set up branches.

MIC has 3,700 branches with 630,000 members nationwide.