'Subra should go for broke in MIC polls'

For decades, S Subramaniam witnessed what promised to be a bright political career dim in the face of his bitter rivalry with the MIC president.

Since his unsuccessful attempt to wrest the presidency away from S Samy Vellu in 1989, the charismatic leader has possibly tried every trick in the political handbook to unseat the master tactician, except contesting against him again.

In the 2006 party polls, Subramaniam was ousted from the number two post by G Palanivel, whom the president openly described as his preferred choice.

Observers then concluded that it was end game for the 68-year-old maverick while his 72-year-old adversary looked destined to be president for life.

But two years later, the winds of change that swept through the Malaysian political landscape dramatically altered the equation. The MIC president and almost all of his top lieutenants were vanquished and the once formidable party is struggling to remain relevant.

In the immediate aftermath of the electoral bruising, Subramaniam and Samy Vellu buried the hatchet with the aim of rebuilding the wounded party.

"But nothing has changed since then," noted a source.

"Subramaniam has not been given any significant role to play in the so-called re-branding exercise and the branches aligned to him continue to remain suspended.

"If anything, the truce only served to discredit him in the eyes of the Indian community as well as alienate some of his closest supporters," he said.

Now MIC is on the verge of holding its elections and rumours on deals and counter-deals being hatched in the backrooms are starting to pour in, among them is the purported plan to propel the president's son and political heir Vel Paari to the top echelon.

Aiming for the jugular

As for Subramaniam, the source said, circumstances might compel the politician to go for broke and take on his adversary for the top slot.

His staunch supporters, he stressed, expect nothing less of him.

The supporters, claimed the source, have grown weary of him waging a war from the sidelines and feel that it is time for Subramaniam to go for the jugular.

"The protracted feud between the two heavyweights has dragged on for decades at the expense of the community with precious time and resources having been exhausted on internal politicking.

"Now the time has come for the matter to be resolved once and for all. Enough is enough, he should just go for broke," he said.

According to the source, Subramaniam is the only leader in MIC capable of mounting a credible challenge against Samy Vellu.

"Who else is there?" he asked. "Subramaniam is possibly the only one in MIC who can secure the required 300 branches to nominate him for the post. (Another presidential hopeful M) Muthupalaniappan will be lucky even if he gets 10 (nominations)."

"Furthermore, Subramaniam might even get the blessings of other Barisan Nasional component parties, namely Umno, should he decide to wage a battle," he said.

Such a move will be viewed as the long-awaited shift in legacy which might just help MIC and by extension the ruling coalition to once again close ranks with the Indian community, he added.

In the March 8 general election, the majority of Indians voted in favour of the opposition, a swing largely credited to the advent of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and the Nov 25 mass street protest.

On the same note, the source also did not discount the possibility of Umno stepping in as well if such a contest takes shape for the MIC presidency.

"It happened in 1972 when S Manikavasagam wanted to challenge VT Sambanthan for the post. Then prime minister Abdul Razak intervened to prevent a split and urged Sambanthan to step aside on the grounds that he had been president for 18 years.

"Now if Subramaniam goes for the top post, Abdul Razak's son Najib, who is to assume the premiership next March, might do the same and apply pressure on the president of 30 years to call it quits as well," he said.

Whether or not the Umno leadership will choose to stick its hands into the internal matters of a component party at a point when Umno itself is at its weakest, remains to be seen. But the grapevines have it that the premier-in-waiting is already pressuring the MIC president for a transition plan.

Maika - another sore point

Meanwhile, another hurdle for Subramaniam is the fiasco surrounding the debt-ridden Maika Holdings, the investment arm of MIC, helmed by the president's son.

"Previously, Maika was Samy Vellu and Vel Paari's problem. But since making peace with the president, it has now become Subramaniam's problem as well. His reputation is on the line," said the source.

Last year, Nesa Corporation - a cooperative linked to Subramaniam - filed an injunction against Maika Holdings to stop it from selling its cash cow Overseas Capital Assurance Bhd in order to reimburse the shareholders.

Detractors had questioned the rational in disposing the investment arm's only revenue generating asset and questions were raised on the manner in which the resolution to proceed with the sale was passed at the Maika annual meet.

While Subramaniam remains tightlipped about his future plans, the source said he will be committing a 'grave mistake' if he chooses to go for deputy presidency again, especially when speculation is rife that incumbent vice-president S Sothinathan is Samy Vellu's preferred choice.

"Mathematically speaking, Subramaniam stands a better chance in going for the top post instead of slugging it out in a crowded ring for number two," he said.

"If he believes that Samy Vellu will keep it an open contest and not interfere then he could be making the same mistake all over again.

"Even if it is an open contest and Subramaniam does win, the victory will be meaningless in the sense that everyone will know that it is the result of a deal struck with the president," he added.

According to observers, the list of possible aspirants for the number two post aside from the incumbent Palanivel include Sothinathan and current MIC secretary-general and Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam.

Businessman and former MIC central working committee member VKK Teagarajan has also offered himself for the post.

Another name being tossed about is information chief and deputy minister M Saravanan.

Whatever the outcome, the next few months will see party leaders picking their brains to ensure their political longevity and hierarchical ascension while a question mark looms over the future of MIC, which appears to have lost the support of the very community it represents and struggles to find direction in a political climate that is gravitating towards non-ethnic based parties.