Discontent against MIC president S Samy Vellu simmers in the party, despite his pledge to step down by September next year.

NONE At a press conference today, Youth deputy chief V Mugilan (left) today demanded Samy Vellu’s immediate resignation.

Should Samy Vellu, who has led MIC for 30 years, fail to do so, the party might be wiped out in the next general election, he said.

“If Samy Vellu waits till September 2011, the deputy president (G Palanivel) will not have enough time to reform before the general election (due) in 2012,” said Mugilan.

“Samy Vellu always blames (former premier Dr) Mahathir Mohamed for his failures (but) Mahathir was a catalyst for development. If we can't do our work, (we should not) blame someone else for our weaknesses.”

He claimed that only 55 percent of the community now support BN, while the current MIC parliamentarians have only been able to defend their seats by a small majority of 2,000.

"I'm forced to make this comment now because time have come for my beloved president to leave the party in the interests of the party and the community,” he said.

"I feel sad to pressure to him to step down but it is for the good of the party. This is not to directed to him as an individual. We should be professional about this.”

While changes have occurred in other BN component parties, the MIC has stayed the same for the past 30 years, according to Mugilan.

“I'm worried the Indian community will opt for an alternative party to replace MIC... I stress that I have (nothing to) gain in doing this. It is entirely for the betterment of the party, the community and BN,” he said.

‘Who is Mugilan?’

Asked if he was concerned that he could be subjected to disciplinary action for openly criticising Samy Vellu, Mugilan replied: “I'm doing exactly what Samy Vellu did to VT Sambanthan... he asked Sambanthan to leave after leading the party for 16 years.

“If I am sacked, Samy Vellu should also go... In Umno, Muhyiddin (Yassin) forced Pak Lah (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) to resign. In MCA, Liow Tiong Lai compelled the party to(call) fresh elections.”

Mugilan, who was accompanied by his lawyer, told reporters that he is confident “there is no room” for action against him.

samy vellu and mic “... this party belongs to the people, it is not private or limited to Samy Vellu (left) . There are others who would agree with me but they are afraid.

“Samy Vellu has MIC in an iron grip, no one will come out in the open and be vocal. I am afraid that the party will sink.”

The MIC chief has been saying he would step down since the general election in March 2008, but this has not happened.

“I have lost confidence in him and there is nothing more he can do. He has had 31 years to fix the problems. If he couldn't do it in 31 years, he cannot do it in one year,” said Mugilan.

Samy Vellu, when contacted, declined to comment or even acknowledge Mugilan's presence in the party.

“I don't want to comment and I don't know who Mugilan is,” he said.

In his statement issued today, Samy Vellu said he will stick to his decision to step down “eight or nine months” before the expiry of his term in May 2012.

“Nothing will change my mind. I will stick to my decision,” he said.

Samy Vellu said his decision to vacate the president’s post

much earlier than May 2012 was “made on my own accord, and I was not pressured by anyone or groups”.

Samy Vellu said the Indian community knew what were his

contributions to them and the party. "Let them judge,” he added.

NONE Youth chief T Mohan (right) brushed off his deputy's comments as a personal viewpoint.

"It is good that the party president (has announced) a (timeframe) on his own. I prefer him to leave voluntarily,"  he said when contacted.

MIC to take action against Mugilan