VIDEO | 30 seconds

Former MIC president S Samy Vellu has denied claims that former prime minister Abdullah Badawi had asked him to retire one year before the 2008 general election.

"Pak Lah never asked me to retire or anything. Nobody can tell me when I should retire. It's my bloody right," he told reporters during Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's Aidilfitri open house function in Putrajaya today.

He was responding to Abdullah's claims in a newly-released book titled ' Awakening: The Abdullah Badawi Years in Malaysia '.

Abdullah had told the book's editors in an interview that  he was unhappy with how Samy Vellu handled certain issues and persuaded him to step down.

However, he said Samy Vellu refused. Samy Vellu continued presence in MIC was widely credited as one of the main reasons for MIC's disastrous electoral outing in 2008.

Son did not consult me

On whether his son S Vell Paari was vying for the MIC vice-presidency, Samy Vellu said his son did not consult him on such matters.

"His wavelength is different while mine is different. What I think may not be good for him. What he thinks may be new to me, so I don't want to disturb his ideas,” he said.

On which candidate he supported, Samy Vellu said he would only comment the party elections when it takes place and he would vote for somebody he liked.

“In these three years, I've never opened my mouth to say anything about the party, but I do my work,” he added.