Leave when it is time
It is hard to understand why 73-year-old Samy insists on retiring at the age of 76. Just like why he would like to have eight surgeries to regrow the hair on his bald head, which originally made him look like a wise man.
By LIM MUN FAH/Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/Sin Chew Daily
The one man show of MIC party election is over without any accident or surprise. Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has once again won without contest and his faction is still firmly in control of power.
Such a lopsided election was indeed too boring. It did not attract any concern from non-party members and it has even failed to raise much attention within the party itself.
However, it is “interesting” and “ambiguous” that former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad bluntly pointed out that Samy should step down. It has triggered some responses and caused some controversies.
What would be the outcome when Dr M meets Samy? It has become a hot topic in coffee shops.
| "How can we miss you if you never go away?" |
I can still remember that Dr M and Samy once were like father and son. Samy was pleased to make others believe that he was highly regarded and trusted by Dr M by claiming that when they paid visits abroad, Dr M always made him stay next door.
Not long ago, the “father and son relationship” has changed.
Dr M bluntly criticised that Samy is unpopular. He also accused Samy of causing the decline of MIC and the loss of Indian support.
Meanwhile, Samy angrily rebuked Dr M for his intervention in the MIC party election. He also ridiculed Dr M by calling him “master of destroying deputies”, who had four deputies during his 22-year tenure.
Let's leave aside all the side issues. The focus of the battle of words is: Should Samy step down?
Samy has been in the office for 25 years and after he was once again elected the MIC President, he stated that he will definitely retire in 2012.
It is hard to understand why 73-year-old Samy insists on retiring at the age of 76. Just like why he would like to have eight surgeries to regrow the hair on his bald head, which originally made him look like a wise man.
Politicians always think that they are very clever but to others, they are instead too stubborn sometimes.
It requires opportunities to come to power and wisdom to step down. Samy understands it but he believes that opportunities are still on his side. How would he willing to step down like former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Tun Abdullah Badawi when opportunities have overridden wisdom?
Not only Samy, but many politicians are unwilling to step down or retire. Some even returned after they left.
Former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani, who has become a hero in the 911 American tragedy, intended to amend the law so that he could renew his term of office for the third time but was eventually badly criticised. Through “The New York Times”, a New York citizen wrote him a letter with philosophical words: “Leave when it is time. How can we miss you if you never go away?”
Unfortunately, politicians, who insist not to step down, usually do not listen to such unpleasant words. Also, they will never understand the truth of how will people remember and respect!
