Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email he told them: “Give me five minutes of your time, and I will give you five years of my life.” Only time would tell if he would keep that word, remarked a member of the audience when met after the function.
MIC evolving to meet rising expectations
http://malaysiakini.com/news/78417
RK Anand | Feb 22, 08 12:16pm
Exhaustion and excitement were etched on his face as the MIC candidate struggled to accommodate the scores of supporters, well-wishers and members of the media. Judging from his expressions, one could tell that S Murugesan is unaccustomed to such overwhelming attention. Nevertheless, the candidate – whose facial features and complexion resemble that of an Umno politician due to his mixed parentage – managed to keep his cool.
He never ceased smiling as he posed for photographs, shook hands and hugged friends and strangers alike at the office of former Subang MP KS Nijhar in Kota Damansara last night.
The father of three – who hails from Klang – has come a long way from his humble beginnings. His father was a gardener but Murugesan is now a successful lawyer. He is also a MIC central working committee member and the party’s Selangor Youth chief.
On Wednesday, the 40-year-old politician – who speaks fluent Tamil and rusty Hokkien – was named as MIC’s new candidate for the Subang parliamentary seat. This was welcomed by observers who consider Murugesan as one of the more hardworking and capable young leaders in MIC with the potential to usher the party into a new era.
He, on the other hand, attributed his rapid rise in the political arena to a series of lucky breaks. With nomination day just 48-hours away, the aspiring MP had a packed itinerary which saw him shuttling from one Barisan Nasional (BN) operations centre to another. Malaysiakini takes a ride in his car for an exclusive interview.
Rising expectations
While Murugesan chose his words carefully when posed with sensitive questions, he, however, conceded that MIC must evolve to meet the rising expectations of the Indian community. “If you look at it, things are different between decades ago and now. Society is something fluid and expectations change. The Indians have raised their bar as well. “I am fully confident that MIC will rise to the occasion and remain relevant to the Indian community. MIC, like any other political party, is also evolving,” he said.
Murugesan also stressed that he wanted to be part of the party’s rejuvenation process by injecting new ideas and strategies. “New ideas and a new way of thinking have to come up… and it is coming up. The party must adapt and move according to the needs of the people. “MIC is here to serve the people and hopefully we, the next generation of leaders, will bear that in mind and carry the struggle forward.”
Murugesan also agreed that there was a need to review the party’s approach and strategies since some critics claim that MIC had been raising the same issues for decades such as Tamil schools and temples when the problems confronting the community were far more complex. “But Tamil schools and temples are also important,” he explained. “These are areas which the community feels urgent attention must be given.”
“However, we should also look at the broader picture, especially the youths. Education is one important aspect and MIC has concentrated much on this. “We must also look at employment and business opportunities. We have to make sure that the Indians, especially the youths, must learn how to be self-reliant,” he added. The MIC leader said Indian youths must think out of the box and venture into the business sector.
“I always tell the youths that nobody owes you a living. The government gives you the basics, it is for us to go out there and make a living for ourselves. “We must remind our youths about this,” he said, adding that by entering into business more job opportunities could be created for all races.
The Hindraf rally
Murugesan was also asked whether the sentiments generated by the Nov 25 mass protest organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) would affect MIC’s election prospects. “If you ask me whether the rallies and all have affected the mood (of the Indian community), I would answer yes. But how much it has affected is yet to be seen and the election will show.
“I believe that when it comes to voting, the Indians will sincerely think about their future. They may consider alternatives but at the end of the day, they will realise that their best chance is with BN,” he said.
Since the rally, MIC’s future and relevance have become the subject of widespread debate and pundits see this general election as a litmus test for the party and its veteran president S Samy Vellu.
Murugesan also dismissed speculation that MIC was forced to revamp its election lineup in a bid to rekindle its waning support from the Indian community. According to him, change had always been the underlying theme of the party and this was reflected in the previous MIC elections. “It has been structured in such a way that this election, irrespective of the (Hindraf) rally…is about change,” he said.
The MIC leader also denied the possibility of an internal backlash following the axing of many veteran state leaders from the lineup. “These leaders may be a little unhappy to have been dropped but they will get back together and work for the party. This has been the tradition in MIC and this is what that has kept us going for so long,” he stressed.
Citing the Subang constituency as an example, he said Nijhar had offered him his full assistance despite the veteran leader and party vice-president being dropped from the list. “He has given me a lot of pointers and guidance. He has offered me his office, operations centre and election machinery. This (cooperation) will be the same throughout the country.”
MIC introduced 13 new faces for its 19 state seats and two fresh candidates for its nine parliamentary seats.
Defends party president
Meanwhile, Murugesan also defended his party president’s protracted rein despite critics arguing that the 72-year-old politician had overstayed his welcome and lambasted him for ruling the party for 28 years in a feudalistic manner. “Despite what the critics may say, he is the democratically elected president. In fact, he won uncontested. He has such strong support within the party,” he said. “So it is not true to say it (the system) is feudalistic. It was done in an open manner. If we look throughout his tenure, he has brought so much of changes within the party.
“People tend to forget, but from time to time, he brought many youths into the party and gave them the opportunity to perform,” he added.
Asked if it is healthy for a political party to have the same president for three decades, Murugesan replied: “This (MIC) is a democratic party. First and foremost, it is the wish of the party members (that Samy Vellu remains as president).” “People tend to forget that he came up through the democratic process. Everybody must respect this,” he pointed out. On whether MIC should emulate its BN counterpart MCA and set a term limit for the presidency, he merely said: “Well, this is for each individual party to decide. MIC has not come to this yet.”
No seat for Subra
To another question on Samy Vellu’s former deputy-turned-nemesis S Subramaniam not being given a seat despite speculation to the contrary, Murugesan said the candidates list was drawn up in consultation with the BN leadership. “This is the spirit of BN. The party line is that everybody must respect the decision and work together to ensure that the party achieves success,” he said.
Subramaniam – the former Segamat MP – was dropped from MIC’s election lineup in 1999. In the 2006 party elections, he lost the number two post to G Palanivel, who was Samy Vellu’s handpicked candidate. In the aftermath of the Hindraf rally, it was rumoured that certain quarters were helping Subramaniam to engineer a political comeback in what was touted as a bid to assuage the anger of the Indian community to a certain extent.
The next two weeks would continue to be hectic for Murugesan who modestly rated his chances of winning the seat as “fair”. He also vowed to work hard and not take things for granted.
Speaking at the Bukit Rahman Putra BN operations centre in Sungai Buloh later, he drew a round of applause from the largely Malay audience when he told them: “Give me five minutes of your time, and I will give you five years of my life.” Only time would tell if he would keep that word, remarked a member of the audience when met after the function.
Pledge to develop all of Subang
KUALA LUMPUR: Shah Alam MIC Youth chief S. Murugesan, 40, has pledged to bring development to all parts of Subang should he be elected as its representative in parliament. Murugesan, who will be the Barisan Nasional candidate, said development in parts of Subang, such as Paya Jaras, was a far cry from that of Subang town, which was highly developed with tall buildings and big shopping complexes.
Noting that Subang was a diverse and mixed constituency, with poor, middle income and rich people, the lawyer said: “I’m mindful of the task ahead should BN win the seat. For instance, I heard that there are some people who are very Internet-savvy while others are not. I will have to cater to both groups,” he said after meeting Subang MIC division and branch chairmen on Tuesday.
Subang MIC chairman N. Krishnan, in welcoming Murugesan, said he was a guest and must be treated well. Murugesan, in reply, asked that he not be treated as a guest but as unggal vittu pillai (your own child). The phrase unggal vittu pillai was often quoted by the legendary actor and politician M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) in his movies before he ventured into politics and, subsequently, became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977. [hmmm…murugesan wants to follow the same path as well?]
Murugesan said he had begun meeting leaders of BN component parties, non-governmental organisations and residents associations in the constituency to look into outstanding issues.
Murugesan, whose mother is Chinese and father Indian, said he grew up in a multiracial environment and never expected to join a race-based party. He thanked MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for the chance to contest and said everything that happened to him was due to God’s grace. The incumbent for the constituency is MIC vice-president Tan Sri K.S Nijhar who has served for two terms. Murugesan said he met Nijhar who had given him a lot of tips and advice for the election. Murugesan is married with three children. He practices law in Klang.
