MIC Youth leader aspirant SP Muthuveloo is confident that if he is given three years to lead the youth wing of the embattled party, he can restore it to its former glory.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini , Muthuveloo, the Subang division chief, said he will strengthen the party so that it remains strong and relevant for another 50 years.

"There is no point in harping on what MIC should or should not have done. The Indian community must stand united behind MIC to help it chart the future of its youth.

muthuveloo 180709 mic youth "We have good boys, good stock but they need to be motivated and given proper direction. At present, that's what we lack" said Muthuveloo ( right ).

"The 2008 general election literally crushed spirit of the people. We did not expect such a heavy blow. A lot people left the party but let's not forget, a lot of our boys stayed back," he said.

Muthuveloo, who is also party president S Samy Vellu's nephew, believes that deep down the youths in MIC are yearning to contribute for betterment of the community.

"This is where the national leadership come in, we need a framework on youth development. We have to motivate these boys, provide them with the skills necessary to become good local leaders, we have to encourage them to participate in our economy," said Muthuveloo.

The 38-year-old UK-trained lawyer is confident that economic empowerment and strong educational support will do help tremendously.

'No two ways about it'

He, however, conceded that information on opportunities for their betterment needs to be disseminated much more effectively.

"For example, you will find that there is this RM69 billion stimulus package but the question is how much do the Indian youth benefit from it," he said.

"We need a blueprint for the entire youth community... right now what I intend to do is to get them to participate in the country's economy.

"We need to come up with some sort of device or mechanism that will help them earn a steady income so that we can run our programmes to help the Indian community without interruption," he added.

Muthuveloo said that business opportunities are aplenty in sectors like agriculture and aquaculture but information on how to participate is scarce.

When asked if the youths are ready to start the wave of change, Muthuveloo said: "We have to make them ready, there is no two ways about it. We have to come up with a mechanism to push them.

"They have the energy, the willingness to work and to better themselves, it is solely a question of direction. When unemployment drops, youths become self-sufficient... and naturally there will be a decline in social ills."

But economic empowerment is not the only thing up his sleeves. Muthuveloo also has plans to mobilise programmes at primary schools especially Tamil language schools.

"No point telling a 18-year-old not to get involved in crime. We should start with Standard One and right up to secondary schools, keep a close tab on them and educate them.

"Many don't know how to read and write and when go on to secondary schools they get lost in translation... then you find that schools have become a breeding ground for gangsterism.

Nip problems in the bud

"By the time we reach out to them it is too late... we are losing young potential talent, so what we need to do is to nip these problems it in the bud," he said.

An educated community is one with a vision, and a community with a vision is an empowered one which is extremely progressive, said Muthuveloo.

Asked whether he is prepared to take up a more progressive front rather than becoming tail ends of Barisan Nasional, he said: "Why not? I will raise matters and ensure ideas are implemented.

NONE "Three years after my term is over, my greatest success will be having laid a solid foundation and the next youth leader has just to build on it."

"We will ask, but we will be reasonable in our demands, we must forget that we are minority in this country. We must be self-reliant and not over depend on the government.

Responding to seething comments by Youth advisor S Vell Paari ( left ), Muthuveloo said his track record in the Subang division speak for itsself.

"Look if there are so many complaints how did I get elected unopposed.... I don't want to be dragged into this media brawl and lose focus on what I have set out to do," he said.

"I have informed the president and now I'm in the midst of getting an endorsement from the delegates so I can go about making a difference to the Indian community," he added.