I read with surprise the way Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak rallied behind Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched a stinging attack last week

It reminds me of MIC deputy president S Subramaniam's refusal to rally behind his boss S Samy Vellu when the MIC president came under attack from MG Pandithan and others in 2003.

Subramaniam, although the deputy president, did not back his boss unlike Najib, who although visiting India, made a point of calling a press conference immediately and issued a statement expressing total support for Pak Lah.

Such an unstinting acts speaks volumes about Najib as compared to Subramaniam.

Unlike Subramaniam, Najib had came out first among the three Umno vice-presidents but Abdullah was chosen as prime minister. When the deputy prime minister's post was vacant Abdullah took nearly six months before selecting Najib.

Najib was slighted at being passed over but yet he stood by his boss in his hour of need. That's a matured politician, patient, kindly and magnanimous. You can't say the same for Subramaniam.

In contrast, Subramaniam had everything handed to him on a golden platter and yet he refused to stand by his boss, allowing the two Tamil newspapers he controls to make the situation worse by attacking Samy Vellu.

This is what Malays call 'derhaka'.

Najib, by his magnanimous act, has confirmed he is prime ministerial candidate. His time will come to lead this country. Subramaniam, by his failure, has shown he is not cut out to be MIC president, let alone deputy president.

His time has arrived, too, to make an exit from the MIC.