S Samy Vellu should relinquish his MIC president’s post immediately to save the party from an inevitable obliteration and a sure by-election defeat in Bukit Selambau, said a former MIC local leader in Penang today.

Former MIC Bagan division secretary, Henry Benedict Asirvatham, said the party and to a certain extent Barisan Nasional, had lost relevance among Indian electorates in the country largely due to Samy Vellu’s incompetence and poor leadership.

He said last year’s general election results disclosed that Samy Vellu was the main cause for MIC and BN to lose their Indian electoral ground across the country.

He is curious at to why Samy Vellu still refused to step aside for fresh blood to helm the party when other BN component parties have changed their leaders following the 2008 election debacle.

“But sadly though, Samy Vellu has refused to heed to public opinion by stepping down from MIC presidency and quitting politics altogether.

“His arrogance and ignorance will lead MIC to destruction and eventual demise,” he said.

He insisted that the Bukit Selambau state by-election in Kedah on April 7 would prove him right that Samy Vellu was irrelevant in today’s Indian Malaysian politics.

“MIC will surely lose in Bukit Selambau by-election if Samy Vellu was still around by then,” said Henry, who is also the Butterworth Indian Association president.

He was criticial over Samy Vellu’s decision to call for the MIC presidential election during the Bukit Selambau by-election period, stressing it would surely dampen BN’s chances of re-capturing the seat.

He pointed out that when Umno demanded to contest Bukit Selambau claiming that MIC had lost its popularity, Samy Vellu was quick to respond by insisting that the party would defend the seat.

Inconsistent in his political stand

He criticised Samy Vellu for being inconsistent in his political stand by having the party presidential election during the same time as the Bukit Selambau by-election campaign period.

“Samy Vellu is clearly more concerned on retaining his own position in MIC rather than helping the BN to win back the seat,” stressed Henry.

MIC presidential election nomination is on March 22 and the poll in an event of election on April 12.

Nomination for Bukit Selambau is on March 29.

“Samy Vellu hopes to be re-elected unopposed on nomination day because he thinks no one would dare to contest against him.

“Even if Muthupalaniappan plans to challenge, Samy Vellu believes his challenger may not get the required nominations to contest,” said Henry.

However, he insisted that MIC and BN chances to re-capture Bukit Selambau would be undermined and compromised if Muthupalaniappan managed to secure the required number of nominations.

“Are MIC members then going to be involved in the presidential election campaign between March 22 and April 12 or are in the BN campaign for Bukit Selambau between March 29 and April 7?” he asked.

Henry insisted that even if Samy Vellu managed to return unopposed as MIC president on nomination day, the majority of the 30 per cent Indian voters in Bukit Selambau will reject MIC.

“Samy Vellu will drive away voters, especially Indians, from BN,” said Henry, adding that the “MIC president” factor had already given Pakatan Rakyat a political advantage.

“The Maika Holdings fiasco and recent police investigations on MIED and AIMST will work against Samy Vellu and MIC in the Bukit Selambau by-election,” Henry added.