Fireworks are guaranteed at next year's MIC polls as deputy president S Subramiam is determined not to back down even when his boss had openly endorsed another candidate.

Tremors were felt throughout the party when president S Samy Vellu recently named vice-president G Palanivel as his preferred choice for the number two slot.

But the quavers have failed to rattle the nerves of his long time deputy.

In an exclusive interview with malaysiakini at his residence in Petaling Jaya last week, Subramaniam exuded confidence when he reiterated his decision to defend his post for the first time in more than two decades.

"I am sure the delegates would want me to continue to be with them and serve," stressed the veteran politician.

Despite the drastic turn of events, Subramiam refused to engage in a mud slinging match with the president.

When pressed on the real motive behind Samy Vellu's decision to support Palanivel ( right ), he replied: "I am not fighting him (the president). I am focused on the contest for number two."

"It is not for me to say whether it is right or wrong for him to declare his support for candidates. It is not for me to answer. It is for him to decide," he added.

Samy Vellu had recently claimed that Subramaniam was waging a ' proxy war ' against him via the Malaysian Nanban Tamil daily, which the latter had denied.

The daily, which is now being rocked by factionalism , has always been seen as a staunch supporter of the MIC deputy president.

Cordial relationship

Asked if he had expected the president to name another candidate, Subramaniam revealed that it came as a surprise.

"Of course I was a bit surprised, although he had mentioned it in private meetings some two months ago.

"At that time, I was surprised he had decided to name the candidate so early, as the party elections is only in next June," he said.

However, Subramaniam added that he respected the decision.

According to the deputy president, Samy Vellu and him share a cordial relationship, but it is an open secret that ties have been strained between the two for a long time.

Subramaniam had even contested against the president in 1989, which observers noted had cemented the rift.

"We have a cordial relationship and we do not have any personal problems. During the last party elections, I was one of those who filed the nomination and supported his (Samy Vellu's) candidature," he said.

Subramaniam, whose last government posting was that of deputy trade and consumer affairs minister, was also struck off MIC's candidates list for the general elections.

Prior to that, he was the incumbent parliamentarian for Segamat, Johor.

Observers had described this as a deliberate attempt by Samy Vellu to sideline his deputy from mainstream politics.

Top post

Recently, an explosive contest had erupted in another Barisan Nasional (BN) component party Gerakan, where its deputy president Kerk Choo Ting had mounted an unsuccessful challenge against long-term president Dr Lim Keng Yaik.

However, Subramaniam dismissed the possibility that a similar situation will be replicated in the MIC.

"I am not planning, nor do I have any intentions of contesting the post of president," he said.

During the two-hour interview, Subramaniam was also asked to comment on party leaders remaining at the helm for too long.

He said this was not a situation exclusive to MIC.

"It appears to be the Malaysian culture. It might take time to change. There seems to be some healthy changes in the MCA. The other parties are not fully into this (new) culture," he added.

On whether this example should be emulated, he replied: "That's for each individual party to decide."

MCA, another BN component party, saw contests for all top positions in it's recently concluded annual general assembly.

It has also imposed a three-term limit for its president.

Q&A: Surprised by president's announcement