MIC president S Samy Vellu said he did not expect any backlash for condemning his deputy to the political guillotine since "we are fully in control of the party".

"And the members do understand why I did that. I want to make this party a very strong party, to serve the community and the nation," he added in an interview with Bernama .

The veteran politician had dropped his long-time deputy S Subramaniam from the party's candidate list for the recent general election.

While he gave no reason for the move, the rumour mills claimed that Subramaniam's role in the recent revival of the Maika Holdings (the party's investment arm) scandal had been the catalyst.

The rift between the duo had been simmering for decades and in 1989, Subramaniam mounted an unsuccessful challenge for presidency.

Leadership changes

Asked if the axing of his deputy indicated changes in the party line-up, Samy Vellu said changes were imminent.

"I have to decide the right time for the change to take place. We have to first put the entire machinery in order so that they (the new leaders) can take over. We have several young people in the line-up now.

"Myself, Veera (vice president S Veerasingham) and (KS) Nijhar (another vice-president) are all over 60. The rest are all younger people who would be able to learn, understand more things and in time to come be ready to take over the leadership," added the 68-year-old leader.

He said the leadership changes will be carried out step by step in order to pave the way for the younger generation to replace the old guards.

"I have got three parliamentary secretaries and three deputy ministers (G Palanivel - Women, Family and Community Development, S Sothinathan - Natural Resources and Environment and Veerasingham - Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs) and out of the three, two are vice-presidents (Palanivel and Veerasingham) and the third, the party's secretary-general.

"Out of the three (deputy ministers), two (Palanivel ( left ) and Sothinathan) are below 50 years of age or just above it. With that in mind, I think they would be capable enough to take over and manage the party at the right time," he explained.

On whether he was grooming any particular leader, he replied: "I don't want to say that I am grooming anyone but all that I am saying is that there are people in the party who are capable enough to take over."

Internal politicking

He also dismissed talk that the appointment of three deputy ministers and an equal number of parliamentary secretaries could give rise to intense internal politicking for the key positions come the next round of party election, scheduled for 2006.

"Usually this (politicking) does not happen in MIC. In MIC, people respect and abide by the decisions of the president and those holding office do not indulge in such things to get elected. They know that when the time comes they will automatically be considered," he said.

Samy Vellu was also confident that party leaders not chosen as candidates in the recent general election would not do anything to divide the party.

As to the complaint from some members of the Indian community that MIC should have been given another ministerial position, the party president said he had made the request to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahamd Badawi "but at the moment it was a bit difficult."

"That is why we had one more deputy minister and one more parliamentary secretary's positions, may be in time to come... we will continue asking the PM at the right time to give us a second ministerial position," he said.

On another note, Samy Vellu, who is also the Works Minister, said the party's general assembly in May would focus on the new agenda for Malaysian Indians.

"It will be used to find ways to promote the community economically, in the education and social fields and to elevate the poor to become middle class," he added.