Samy going for his ‘last term’

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu will defend his presidency for the “last term” in the MIC party polls scheduled for March next year.

“I will retire in 2012 (after the end of the three-year presidency). I have already said it before,” the 72-year-old told reporters after presenting UPSR revision books to headmasters and students of Tamil schools here yesterday.

He said he would also stick to his decision not to contest for any parliamentary seat in the next general election.

(In March, Samy Vellu said that the general election would be his last, and that he would concentrate on party work and return to his architectural work when he retires).

Samy Vellu said that since he was not a minister, he had all the time to do party work.

To a question, he said he would be happy if anyone contested for the top post.

“It will also give me a chance to see my strength in the party,” he said.

Samy Vellu had led the party since taking over the presidency in 1979 following the death of Tan Sri V. Manickavasagam.

He said the state MIC leadership would be revamped after their annual general meetings in May and June.

Samy Vellu said there was a need to overhaul the party leadership and machinery within the next two years and also recruit 200,000 young members.

On a separate issue, he said he would seek a meeting with Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ismail to discuss the request for a 1.9ha piece of land for the construction of the SRJK Tamil Seaport in Selangor.

“We have already drawn up the plans and a 0.46ha site has been allocated but supporters want a bigger site. Now it is up to the state government to give what their supporters are asking,” he said.

On the statement by Selangor state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar that he would resolve the problems of the temples in the state, Samy Vellu said: “It would be better if they can allocate land for the over 2,000 temples in the state.”

mi3 responds -why didnt Samy demand or perform whatever he is demanding now from the earlier state or federal government when he was in the cabinet and as a works minister and as a MP.