Nope, I was not there 🙂 but it was telecast live on RTM1. When was the last time you saw MIC program live on TV?

Samy Vellu started by ticking off the members for leaving the dinner early, saying that it allowed newspapers to write that he is losing support, and brought shame to the party. Says Samy:

Isn’t this what you all wanted? If you are unhappy, take a vote of no-confidence against me this evening and I’ll walk out of the party.In my entire political life, yesterday’s (Friday’s) event was the biggest blow I’ve suffered so far.

But I won’t keep this to heart and take my revenge against all of you.

He then challenged delegates to move a resolution to remove him, saying that he will walk out of the party if they did. Unfortunately no one dared to take up his challenge.

Samy Vellu said BN must do away with communal politics and become a truly multi-racial party if it wants to regain the support and trust of the people.

He said BN should speak with one voice while ensuring the needs and sensitivities of all races were respected and fulfilled.

I think the time has come for the BN to play a more prominent role as the guardian of multi-racial Malaysia. This will help us to do away with communal politics.

Samy Vellu said the Indian community today viewed and identified the MIC with the government.

As such, whatever that the government does is deemed an action of the MIC.

He said the BN government had the undivided support of the Indian community for the past 50 years.

There is no denying that in the last general election, the support of the Indian community for the BN has dwindled.

This, he said, was because the community felt that many of the issues close to their heart had not been duly addressed by the government.

This perception led to the decline in their support towards us.

However, Samy Vellu said the “past is past” and called on the BN to move forward by taking care of the needs of every community. He said the formation of a cabinet committee headed by Najib to address the problems faced by the Indian community was a step in the right direction.

My hope is that we use this opportunity to bring about policy changes that will have a positive impact on the living standards of the Indians in the country. We in the MIC have every confidence that the Malaysian Indian community will return to give its total and undivided support to the BN government.

Samy also said that the community had not been able to raise its level of participation owing to the lack of opportunities and financial
capacity.

To alleviate the problem, the MIC would like the Government to increase the number of permits and licences to Indians to
participate in the transport sector.

He said the Government should provide all necessary assistance and opportunities for the community to play a substantive role in the growth and development of the small and medium enterprises in the country.

Samy Vellu said the major problem faced by the MIC was that of single mothers who were unable to cope with the cost of living.

The MIC is here because it is easier to call the MIC than anyone else because the MIC cares. We have strived to help the community, even with limited resources.