Negri Sembilan MIC deputy chairperson Dr L Krishnan should not be a tough act to follow for party veterans - at the age of 60 and having served two terms, he has opted out of defending the Jeram Padang state seat.

Krishnan, who contested in 1995 and in 2004, said he wants to pave the way for young leaders.

Similarly, Johor MIC chief KS Balakrishnan has indicated his willingness to step aside if party president S Samy Vellu wishes him to do so.

Balakrishnan served as Pasir Gudang state assemblyperson for four terms from 1986 and won the Permas state seat in the 2004 general election.

mic gathering cheras 200108 clapping frenzy The young and the ambitious in the MIC hope this will set in motion a wave of change at the top, and that Samy Vellu will not waver from his pledge to introduce new faces in the general election which is looming.

A young leader from Selangor, who is counting on being named a candidate, said he hopes more veterans will voluntarily give up their seats at federal and state levels.

‘Some of them have been elected representative for more than 12 years. There are others who have been elected representatives for almost 20 years. It is time for them to give way to young candidates," he said.

If the young guns had their way, the list of ‘retirees’ would include:

  • KS Nijhar (MP for Subang Jaya)
  • S Veerasingam (MIC vice-president and Tapah MP)
  • Dr S Subramaniam (party secretary-general and Segamat MP)
  • V Saravanan (Kedah chief and Bukit Selambau state representative)
  • G Rajoo (Perak chief and Hutan Melintang state representative)
  • R Raghavan (Malacca chief and Asahan state representative)
  • K Rajapathy (Perai state assembly person)
  • PK Subbaiyah (Bagan Dalam state representative, in Penang)
  • V Jagarasah (two-term Batu Caves assemblyperson)

Another young MIC leader, who is also keen to contest the elections, pointed out that there several others who are well past the age of retirement.

"They have had their chance to do their duty to the community and now they should leave, especially when sentiments on the ground are against them at the moment," he said.

subramaniam interview He pointed out that former deputy president S Subramaniam ( photo ) should be added to the list.

"It is being reported that Subramaniam is lobbying the prime minister (and Barisan Nasional chairperson) for a seat. I don’t think he should be given one," he said.

Both young leaders did not want to be named for fear of being labelled as "ambitious troublemakers".

‘More dynamic image’

Contacted for comments, both Jagarasah and Veerasingam predictably said they would leave the final decision to Samy Vellu.

m saravanan senator MIC information chief M Saravanan refused to comment on the status of the leaders named, saying that the selection process is the president’s prerogative.

"I am sure the president is listening to everyone and will make decisions that will benefit the party and the community," Saravanan, who is also the Federal Territories party head.

Samy Vellu could not be contacted for comment, but had earlier announced that he will revamp the party by dumping "fatigued" elected representatives. He added almost 50 percent of the candidates will comprise new faces.

Both the party and its president have come under intense pressure in recent months, having been blamed for the Indian Malaysian community’s sorry socio-economic status and lack of political clout within BN.

samy vellu and mic party and malaysia goverment Insiders say that Samy Vellu is looking at introducing young faces to update the party’s image and to give it a ‘professional and dynamic look’.

"He also feels that young leaders will be able to engage the community and get things done for them," said a source.

The ‘favourites’ are said to include Saravanan, P Kamalanathan (Putera MIC head), S Vel Paari (Samy Vellu’s son), T Mohan (central working committee member and youth welfare bureau chief), S Murugesan (CWC member) and J Usha Nandhini (Puteri MIC leader).

"However there is also a fear that despite all that Samy Vellu has said, he may make an emotional decision to retain the veterans," said an insider.

Strangely none of the aspiring young leaders said anything about dropping Samy Vellu himself as a candidate. He has helmed the party since 1979 and has been a cabinet minister for 29 years.

At 72 now, he has indicated that he will defend the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat, which he has held for eight terms since 1974.