MIC snubs UMNO

ARCHIVES 2009

By MT Webmaster On Sep 17, 2009

It's no secret Datuk Seri Najib Razak and UMNO for that matter wanted Samy Vellu out. They see the long time MIC president as the reason the Indian community turning their back on the BN. Samy as expected denied the claim saying instead that the Indians "are angry with the BN not me."

By MOHSIN ABDULLAH/MySinchew

The headlines of The Sunday Star 13 September 2009 screamed "Samy gets his way," referring to the MIC polls held a day earlier where all Samy Vellu's men won. The headlines might well be written "Najib didn't get his way."

Hence the "strategy" was to "ensure' all of Samy's men lose the MIC polls, thus isolating the veteran politician who will then be surrounded by bitter rival Datuk S. Subramaniam and company.

Thus Najib (read UMNO) were seen to have thrown their weight for the Subra team. Even former PM Tun Mahathir Mohamad joined in. The Tun as usual did not minced words blaming Samy for the woes of the Indian community. His remarks were carried in a Tamil newspaper "aligned" to Subra a few days before the MIC polls. And Najib's speech at the MIC Assembly before polling got on the way drove home his message.

Months earlier when Najib attended a big gathering at the Batu Caves seen as a significant event for the Indian community, Samy Velllu was excluded. Still all that didn't work.

"Despite what the PM said this morning, delegates made their decision. Nothing here's changed," said Datuk S.Sothinathan when the poll results were announced in the evening of Saturday September 12. Sothinathan a "protégé"' of Samy himself stood for the Deputy Presidency against the wishes of his Godfather and lost.

Of course some in the MIC claim that Sothi as he is fondly called, joined in the fray to split votes. An aide of Subramaniam claimed that his boss would have beaten incumbent Datuk G.Palanivel had "Sothi not contested the deputy presidency." I reserved comment.

Anyway Najib's reaction to the polls results at best could be described as face saving or cushioning the disappointment. The BN chairman said the results were expected. But he went on to say "the results were expected because of the nature of the MIC delegates." Just what he meant by "the nature of the MIC delegates" he did not say. But that could very well send the wrong signal or even hurt the feelings of the MIC, delegates or non delegates.

Subramaniam, attributed his defeat to money politics. Again I would not like to comment. We'll have to wait for Subra to bring forth his proof and evidence which he said he have. But to some political observers , the support from UMNO to Subramaniam and his allies had somehow spoiled their chances for victory. The attacks on Samy in particular were cleverly turned into something of an advantage for all the President's men( Awang Selamat of the UMNO owned Malay newspaper Utusan Malaysia also indulges in Samy bashing quite frequently).

With such strong UMNO support, Subramaniam and team were seen or portrayed as a bunch who would be indebted to UMNO and thus subservient to it. This is definitely a politically no no . Especially now. Given the cow head incident and the perceived UMNO link. The delegates fear they would further incur the wrath of the community. So the MIC are willing to risk sticking to Samy despite all the unflatteringremarks hurled at the him by a very vocal section of the community. Hence, the snub on UMNO.

As expected Najib has called for the MIC to close ranks now that party polls are over. The delegates have spoken he said. Hence the losers he said must accept the decision made by the delegates. And the winners said Najib must also be willing to accept the losers back to it's fold. But the MIC leadership are adamant Subramaniam be hauled up to face disciplinary charges. Another snub on UMNO? Obviously.

But should the BN continue to fail to make inroads among the Indian community, the MIC will continue to find itself staring at many an accusing finger.