Dr. Mahatir quoted,"One must not overstay one's welcome!"
He is referring to Datuk Seri Samy Vellu's long reign as MIC's president. MIC is a component party of Barisan Nasional coalition.
MIC represent the Indian community in Malaysian.
In the last election, majority of the indians abandoned MIC and the ruling BN government. This was due to numerous discriminative policies and obvious snubbing of the indians by the government. Though it was difficult to proof but the discrimination is very fertile on the ground. Due to frustration, the indians vent their anger and voted the opposition. They blamed Samy for failing to voice for the Indians the past 30 years or more.
Recently Samy announced that he would step down as MIC president in 8 to 9 months time. This didn't go down well with Mugilan who was recommended by UMNO as a by-election candidate in Hulu Selangor. However, Samy Vellu objected vehemently and Mugilan was replaced by Kamala nathan. It is very obvious that Mugilan holds grudge and he told Samy to quit immediately. Samy viewed it as dissent and sacked him and two others who joined Mugilan's chorus. Mugilan have now orchastrated an anti Samy movement (GAS) to oust Samy.
That is the current situation of MIC's problem. Well, Samy may have failed as a leader for the Indians, but is it really Samy's fault? We know Samy was a cabinet Minister until last election, but did the Prime Minister's during his tenure really listened to his grouses and tried to help? I doubt Dr.Mahatir did, all he would jealously say is "Indians are doing good, there are many doctors and lawyers...". As though all that Indian doctors and lawyers are taking care of the other Indians.
UMNO blames Samy for failing to get the indian votes. How convienient to put the blame? Samy's son said, "UMNO has been the bus driver and all other parties in the coalition are passengers!" How true and it is an open secret. It is UMNO which calls the shots and throws crumbs to the partners who are the lapdogs. Now the "driver" have driven into a ravine and blames the passengers for the mistake. UMNO blames everyone except itself. It fails to look inwards. It fails to attract the non-malays.
The troubles in MCA and MIC seemed to indicate UMNO's invisible hand in causing the internal problem. UMNO thinks changing the current leadership of MCA and MIC will help to get the non-Malays support. Is it so? What UMNO failed to realise is it's doing, the discriminative policies it formulates, obvious sidelining of Chinese and Indians and other minorities in projects, business licences, scholarships, university entry, shoving of Islamic values and forcing of syariah compliance on non-Malays and much more hegemony.
It is evident that UMNO has a hand in this GAS effort. Samy is right to expel Mugilan and others. Though I am not a Samy supporter but I agreee with him.