After leading the party for almost three decades, MIC president S Samy Vellu said he will step down when the Indian Malaysian community no longer needed him.

"I plan to retire but I haven't set a date... if the Indian community does not want me anymore, then I will be free to leave," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report today.

Samy, who is also works minister, has been at the helm of the party since 1979.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the MIC central working committee, the president said he will defend his post at next year's party elections.

Asked if he is grooming any particular leader to take over after he retires, Samy said: "I am preparing several people to run the party in the future."

"We have S Subramaniam (deputy president), (G) Palanivel (vice president) and (S) Sothinathan (secretary-general).

"During the last term (2003-2006), my best choice (to take over) was Subramaniam but it may be a different person in the next term (2006-2009). I haven't thought about the candidate. I will tell you after I decide," he added.

However, it is open knowledge that Samy favours Palanivel, who in turn has announced his decision to challenge for the deputy presidency.

The long-term incumbent deputy president has also vowed to defend his post.

'I am crazy'

Meanwhile, Samy said the leaders he is grooming must not only take care of the party but the whole Indian Malaysian community as well.

Education and eradication of poverty among the community is the party's main priorities, he added.

"We must develop the community to be on par with the bumiputera and Chinese. We don't want a situation where they advance 250 feet while the Indian community retreats 250 feet.

"I admit I am crazy ( gila )... I am crazy about raising the dignity of my race so that it stands on par with the other races in this country," he said.

To achieve this, Samy said he needed leaders who could join hands and work together with him.

He said that he will not sideline any leader, "but when the time is right, and when the situation is no longer right (for him to lead), I will make a decision".

In a related development, the MIC president said the party will begin its selection process next February starting with the branch level and the division level in March.