PETALING JAYA: The Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) movement believes that the MIC president is now sharpening his axe to slay deputy president G Palanivel. Their prediction is based on Palanivel's appointment as a deputy minister for plantation industries and commodities, which they noted did not reflect MIC's hierachy.Speaking at a press conference here this morning, GAS leaders V Mugilan and KP Samy said the new appointment was contrary to what Samy Vellu had said in the past.
“Samy Vellu told us that government positions will be given out based on the party hierarchy but we have the deputy president as a deputy minister while a vice-president Dr S Subramaniam is holding a full minister's post,” said KP Samy.Concurring, Mugilan added: “It is very very unfair to Palanivel and it signals that the deputy president will be axed sooner or later.”
'Palanivel will not take on Samy'
Over the past months, speculation has been rife that ties between MIC's top two leaders have been strained and that Samy Vellu is devising a plan to make Subramaniam his heir.However, Samy Vellu has repeatedly said that it will be Palanivel who will succeed him while the latter has also denied there is a rift between them.
There is also talk that pressure is being applied by certain quarters to force Palanivel to take the lead in the campaign to oust the president.But sources close to the deputy president said Palanivel will not do so.
“He has always been loyal to the president, and furthermore if he makes such a stand, it will only break up the party further.“Samy Vellu has already set a retirement date, and there is also a possibility that he may step down before next September if he is given other roles,” he said.
Palanivel is also not interested in becoming part of an agenda mooted by certain leaders who have an axe to grind with Samy Vellu, added the source, declining to reveal names.However, it is obvious that the source was referring to Samy Vellu's arch nemesis and former deputy S Subramaniam, to whom KP Samy is closely linked.As for being appointed deputy minister, the source, declined to elaborate, beyond saying: “The PM (Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak) has explained to Palanivel the reasons for this.”
Join opposition threat?
Meanwhile, KP Samy said GAS will be organising another event in Klang on June 13, but it will not be about Samy Vellu.Quizzed on the agenda, the sacked MIC central working committee (CWC) member insisted on playing the cards close to his chest.“All I can say is that we are going to send a strong message to the Indian community and the government. Samy Vellu can rest well as we will not be talking about him on that day,” he said.However, a source told FMT that the trio are most likely to give an ultimatum that if Najib does not remove Samy Vellu, they will join the opposition.Unlike the May 30 rally at the Mines Exhibition Centre, KP Samy said the upcoming event will be the movement's first “meeting”.
“The one (rally) at Mines was the launching. The one in Klang will be our first meeting,” he added.
The GAS rally failed to live up to the organiser's expectation when only some 3,000 turned up while they were confident of a 15,000-strong crowd.Following the dismal showing, the organisers blamed Samy Vellu for allegedly employing underhand tactics to undermine the gathering.
KP Samy to chair Klang meet
Mugilan, the former MIC Youth deputy chief, told reporters that the meeting in Klang will be chaired by KP Samy.“Basically we are taking turns. The previous one was chaired by me so KP Samy will be handling the next one. After that (another sacked CWC member) Kumar Aamaan will take charge of the following gathering,” he said.In another development, KP Samy said he will sue MIC Youth information chief Siva Subramaniam and Tamil Nesan, which is owned by Samy Vellu's family.“Siva and Tamil Nesan have accused me of being involved in a human trafficking racket. They are bankrupt of ideas,” he said, adding that he will sue Siva for RM2 million and Tamil Nesan for RM5 million.
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