I saw the interview on “Karathu Kaalam” (Saturday 6-7pm, TV2, 14 June), but only from halfway. Interestingly, the survey done via the show indicates that more than 86% of the voters want a MIC leader who can speak Tamil fluently as one of the criteria.

Samy was calm and jovial at times, throughout the interview, conducted by Paandithurai. He tried to captivate the audience with flowery Tamil, but looking at the comments from viewers scrolling on the TV, not so successful. Many of the comments looke like came from MIC members (as indicated on the messages).

Samy highlights th criteria to be the MIC’s numero uno:

• must prove to have the party and the people’s interests at heart.
• must earn the trust and respect of party members
• must have displayed leadership qualities and people-oriented
• must be near the people, communicate with them, know and resolve their problems and have the peoples interests in his or her heart

He reiterated his retirement date is in 2012, meaning another term as President is imminent. » Read more: Samy not revealing successor

 If Alex is still around, there will be a contest. There’s another 9 months left. Let’s see what more interesting stories turn up. Although some quarters clamour for his retirement, Samy is firm on continuing until 2012.

Most likely he will win as I doubt there are any strong contenders or dissidents that will win support from the branch leaders.

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said anyone can contest for the presidency when nominations are held next year. “I will not stop anyone from contesting for the post,” he said.

The 72-year-old, who has been the president since 1979, completes his term on March 8 next year. Elections would have to be held within two months after that.

Speaking to reporters after presenting the President’s Merit Award to 411 SPM and STPM students here on Thursday, he said: “Lots of people want to see Samy Vellu finished.”

“I don’t worry about it. I will keep on serving the Indian community and the MIC until they say that they don’t want me … then I will say goodbye”, he said.

source

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has declared that he would contest the top post for a record 11th term at the party’s presidential election in March next year. I will not stop anyone from contesting the president’s post.”We are a democratic party. I am elected by popular vote, so it is the members who will decide.

“I will continue serving until the members say they don’t want me. My term ends on March 8,” Samy Vellu said after handing over the president’s merit awards to excellent SPM and STPM Indian students at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

Samy Vellu, 72, has declared that he would quit active politics in 2012 and this bid would be his last as party president, a post which he has held since 1981, after serving two years before as acting president.
The MIC supremo lost the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in the March 8 general election, and speculation has been rife that the veteran politician would contest the post for the last time next year before handing over the party to the chosen successor.

To contest the president’s post, a potential candidate needs to amass at least 50 nominations from the 3,600 MIC branches nationwide.

source