The Malaysian Insider

By Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 — MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel,  who was written-off by Datuk S Subramaniam as a mere “shadow” of party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu hit back and called his chief rival “a coward”.

“He does not even have the guts of Datuk (M) Muthupalaniappan who challenged the president,” Palanivel said in a statement today.

Palanivel was responding today to Subramaniam’s remarks yesterday in which he urged delegates to bravely exercise their right and reject candidates who were mere “shadows” of others in the MIC elections in September.

Both are in an intense race for the deputy presidency as the winner is set to inherit the party leadership from Samy Vellu, who has been party president since 1979.

Muthupalaniappan had challenged Samy Vellu for the presidency in March but was disqualified because he did not have enough nominations.

However, in a shocking reversal Muthupalaniappan has now patched up his differences with Samy Vellu and has described him as the only leader able to lead the Indian community.

Palanivel said today that politicians who play the role of shadows would eventually emerge to overshadow others.

“By referring to me as a shadow, he is inferring that he (Subramaniam) is not a shadow. If so, why did he not contest against the MIC President,” he said.

“He calls me a shadow when I had been a deputy president for only three years. What has he done as a deputy since 1981? He did not even have the guts of Muthupalaniappan to challenge the president,” Palanivel said in a statement.

He said those who play the role of “shadows” would eventually “out-shadow and overshadow” others.

“But those who try to back stab will be rejected by the MIC voters,” he said in reference to Samy Vellu’s oft-repeated claim that Subramaniam had back-stabbed him over Maika Holdings' attempt to sell off its profitable insurance arm to pay back shareholders.

“In the 2006 deputy presidential elections a mere ‘shadow’ like me was able to topple him (Subramaniam) when supporters of Samy Vellu rejected him,” Palanivel said.

“I have had a good two decade journey in MIC and have used it to understand and integrate with the grassroots while being involved in many programmes for the less privileged,” he said.

“My growth as one of the top leaders in the MIC today is not something gifted to me but something I worked hard to achieve,” he said. “My success today is due to the grassroots support as well as the support from the President,” Palanivel added.

Subramaniam yesterday had said that the winds of change were blowing in the MIC and urged the party’s 1,400 delegates to make a change without fear.

“If you fear to make the change then democracy is defeated. Be brave, be like the voters of March 8 and vote without fear,” he had said.

Subramaniam, who is running for the deputy president’s post in September against incumbent Palanivel, also took a swipe at his main opponent, saying delegates should vote for someone tested, experienced and able to unite the party and win back lost glory.

“It is no point voting for a candidate who is in the shadows of another individual,” Subramaniam said in urging delegates to think about the future of the party and the Indian community when voting.

“It is no point picking a man sheltering under the umbrella,” Subramaniam said in a reference to Palanivel who is supported by Samy Vellu.

Although vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan is also in the race for the deputy president’s post, he is expected to pull out at the last minute and make it a straight fight between Subramaniam and Palanivel.

Comments (7)

Show/Hide comments

Show/Hide comment form