MIC chief Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu held nothing back when he engaged NSTLive readers during a two-hour session this morning. He was straight forward to the point of being blunt with readers who asked questions which he had answered many times before. But he was also indulgent, giving a detailed reply to a question on his his hair — is it real or planted?
He brushed off questions on the MIC leadership succession plan, saying he not dictatorial like Adolf Hitler.
The colourful former works minister also let NSTLive readers in on what makes him happy — Indian food and singing. And after a lifetime in public life, Samy Vellu has one regret: that Indians don’t understand what he has done for the community.
Extracts from the NSTLive session. For the full version, visit www.nst.com.my
ON MAIKA HOLDINGS
Kumar: Datuk Seri, do you know that Maika Holdings is the only company which started with more than RM100 million hard cash yet it went down the drain under your very own eyes and stewardship. Is this among your achievements?
Samy Vellu: My friend, you are sadly mistaken, it has not gone down the drain. The money is still there. Maika Holdings owns more than 70 per cent of United Oriental Capital insurance company. Why don’t you read and understand all this?
MIC
MSMRK: Do you think MIC can still survive in the next general election?
Samy Vellu: Very few people know the grassroots (referring to its working class membership) nature of the MIC. We have survived even the times of emergency. I don’t see any reason why we cannot survive under new brilliant leader (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
IQBAL Hassan: What have you done to date to hand over to the next leader of MIC?
Samy Vellu: The MIC has a president, deputy president and vice presidents. They were elected democratically by the members and I am surprised you don’t know who they are.
Tamilselvan: Do you agree you “finished” your opponents in MIC with iron fist, like what you did to Muthupalaniappan recently?
Samy Vellu: I don’t think you understand politics. You talk through your nose rather than talking through your mouth. Nobody finishes no one in the party. Muthupalaniappan is still safe and going around giving a lot of statements against everybody. I’m not Adolf Hitler. I’m just an ordinary Samy Vellu.
Raja: Datuk, years ago you told Tun Sambanthan to leave because of his age? Why are you still holding on to power?
Samy Vellu: Thank you Mr Raja. I have already decided and fixed my time to leave. Not because of my age. But, I want to hand over to a younger man. But please do remember, old is gold.
ON PPP’s DATUK T. MURUGIAH
Josephine: We like you so much but don’t overstay as we need new leaders. Maybe people like Murugiah to lead MIC.
Samy Vellu: I don’t want to say anything about Murugiah (Refused to take questions on Murugiah as it would seem to be interfering in the affairs of a component Barisan Nasional party).
ON HINDRAF
Paul Nathan: There is widespread belief that Hindraf was born of the failures of the MIC, especially under your long but dictatorial and corrupt leadership.
Samy Vellu: I think you have an affected mind where you do not understand how Hindraf came into being. They just want to tell the government on the dissatisfaction of the community on a piece of paper with some 18 or 19 requests and changes that they want. Whereas, the MIC, had carried out for the past 29 years several matters for the government with research papers where it has mentioned about the community’s backwardness, their educational backwardness, the poverty ratio of 30 per cent, the Tamil schools… In 1983, I started building Tamil schools after having studied the conditions. Many of the news of what was done was mostly published in the vernacular papers. If you can’t read Tamil, it is not my mistake.
ON PERAK
Kumar: What is your take on the political limbo in Perak?
Samy Vellu: Well, I must say, it is not the mistake of BN. It’s the PKR who started and went on a long campaign to rob members of parliament and form a government on Sept 16. I think the best solution will be to test their strength within the assembly.
Trey: Is MIC shameless? Why is your party fighting to be the speaker of the Perak assembly?
Samy Vellu: We are not fighting to have the MIC speaker. He is a BN speaker who represents the BN majority. I’m sorry to see your ignorance.
Kumar: To recap Datuk Seri, MIC was rejected in Perak?
Samy Vellu: If you feel that MIC was rejected, you are wrong. But, it is the policy of the BN government to provide opportunities for every community and that is the reason the BN leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has approved this appointment (Speaker Datuk S. Ganesan).
ON INDIAN REPRESENTATION in CABINET
Nothing but wind: Many say that it was you who wanted one minister for MIC. Is it true?
Samy Vellu: It is not true. It is already been there before I became president. It was done by my predecessor. After I took office, we had one minister, we have talked to the BN chairman many times to increase it to the previous status quo of two. But, we had three deputy ministers, three parliamentary secretaries during my time.
ON SINGING
BRE Anthony: Dato Seri, you have a good voice and sing very well, do you practice in your house with karaoke?
Samy Vellu: I don’t do karaoke but I do sing sometimes. Singing makes me happy.
ON HIS REGRETS
SRS: What are your regrets if any in political life
Samy Vellu: SRS, the regret is, that people don’t understand what has been done for them. Under my leadership, the Indians have progressed very well and today in this country, only 30 per cent of Indians still under poverty. The MIC is continuously pursuing the matter with the government.
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