‘Less than 50 percent of the MIC delegates voted in S Samy Vellu's choice for deputy. It’s an empty victory but a win is still a win to this mighty man and he is rid of his detractors.’

Samy comes under criticism at MIC debate

Takjamin: Less than 50 percent of the MIC delegates voted in Samy Vellu's choice for deputy. It’s an empty victory but a win is still a win to this mighty man and he is rid of his detractors.

Congratulations to you, Samy Vellu, and your group of supporters, never mind the more than 50 percent who voted against your choice. Goodbye MIC, you are still ‘missing in action’. Do not blame BN. It was your choice.

Imraz Ikhbal:

Fantastic! Exactly the outcome I had hoped for. This shall mark the beginning of MIC's demise and a glimmer of hope for the plight of the Indians as the Pakatan Rakyat coalition now becomes more formidable in garnering Indian votes.

Ks: Candidates who resorted to gaining the approval of their past and present Umno masters are hardly a better choice. If S Subramaniam had contested on his own merit, could he have won?

Wira: "A visibly distraught (S) Sothinathan..." No surprise Sothi. If you split votes with Subramaniam, the president's man will just walk over the two of you. It's the same with those who think their own party is bigger than Pakatan. Your common enemy will win because of your selfishness!

Bosco Philip Anothony:

Subra, it’s time for you to make your exit. In any case, MIC, in the eyes of right thinking people, is moribund. You have to look at politics from a multi-racial perspective. Think about it, Subra.

Malayamuda: When Samy became president of MIC, Prime Minister Najib Razak was not even in the cabinet yet. He had not even become Umno Youth leader, so can you imagine how Samy would have felt if Najib advised him that it’s time for him to go?

Kama Mustaffa: In PAS, DAP and PKR, there are Malays and non-Malays representatives who are being treated equally as important like all party members. My own experience with PAS, the non-Malays were treated very well and their opinion is usually taken in great length. So does in DAP and PKR. This is the way forward.

All race-based party is no longer relevant. That's why we must vote for Pakatan. DAP is not racial-base-based, PKR is not racial-based, it is justice-based.

Ismi:

I truly adhere to the notion that race-based politics is here to stay unless we are fooling ourselves about the so-called Bangsa Malaysia concept. It was put to the litmus test in Penang to the utter failure and disappointment of the Indians in Kampung Buah Pala. Even in the case of Barak Obama, 90 percent of blacks who were traditional Republicans voted for him, because he looks black and sounds black.

Kvsnkumar: Race-based politics is here to stay unless we, the electorate, take the initiative to move for a race relations act that would outlaw discrimination. We should also pressure the government to ratify the UN resolution on minority rights which the Malaysian government refuses to do so.

In the 1960s, the blacks in America fought for the civil rights bill that made discrimination a crime punishable by a jail sentence. Discrimination was reduced greatly, which 40 years later paved the way for an African American to be come president.

Sexy Baby:

Samy has forgotten that whatever he got was from Umno. You never got anything on your own. If you made money from AIMST University, it’s because Umno gave the land and approved programmes for AIMST. So, now you decide to condemn and tell off Najib. You have also boycotted Najib's Batu Caves visit. You have actually asked for it. You and your team will not get anything from the Umno government.

Amos: This clown (actor) and his party took the Indians for a ride for the past 30 years. They amassed obscene amount of wealth and are very rich today. They pretend to be fighting for the Indians. The Indians should look to Pakatan for help instead.

Guarnangka:

Samy and his men's victory makes it much easier for the voters in constituencies in which MIC will contest to reject the party totally. Well Samy, you should be congratulated for making BN's eclipse possible in the next election. You are the real 'hero' of Malaysian politics.

Justice Seeker:

I feel as long as Samy is the president of MIC, the Indians will be shying away from MIC. Anyway, MIC is irrelevant in the Malaysian political scenario. It is an irony that, in its 52 years of association with the BN, how many Indians were MPs and Aduns compared to the Pakatan's Indian MPs and Aduns. This clearly shows that Pakatan had managed to win the chunk of Indian voters to its side. It doesn’t matter whoever is the president of MIC - it is doomed.

Kanyakumari: The last hope for change was Saturday’s MIC election. It appears that nothing matters to most of the delegates as long as Samy Vellu is the chief. Everyone knows that the Indian community needs a new leader who can unite the community but why do they keep on supporting Samy? There must be some special reason.

The present leaders must all go and MIC needs new blood otherwise you can expect nothing at the next election. The BN will be weaker and the country will suffer. I urge all Indians to think of the future instead of short-term gains.

Geronimo: Najib wants MIC to win back the Indians. The question is "how"? MIC no longer has any leverage to speak of. Umno is the one calling the shots, and by doing so, have virtually destroyed MIC in the process.

The coming by-election of Bagan Pinang will be the barometer of Indian support. It is not whether Pakatan will win or lose, but rather the number of Indians voting for the opposition that will in one way, decide the direction MIC is heading.

So Samy, show us one leverage you have over Umno and we will start believing you that MIC still has a future.