MIC crisis: Who should lead now?

It was disappointing when MIC vice-president Datuk M. Saravanan who had earlier announced his bid for presidency, decided to throw support behind deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam instead.

While Dr Subramaniam is a good leader and has many supporters in the party, judging from the cheers and crowd who received him at the Sunday’s briefing, question need to be asked – does MIC need another ‘nice guy’ at this juncture where the party is struggling with internal conflict?

Do the members want Dr Subramaniam based on his track records or because they truly believe he is the only man who can straighten the house?

True, both men have their own strengths and support but MIC is at the point where a ‘nice guy’ alone would not do the job.

It needs a tough and cunning mind, ability to control every layer of the members and remember, all these at a time where wounds are still fresh and knives are all out.

While the good doctor has his qualities to helm the troubled party, can he meet the demands of the party right now and that of the Indian community? Does he have the political cunningness and toughness to gain support?

Critics would be quick to say that Saravanan, 47 still has the time and that party members should allow the Dr Subramaniam, 62, to rule the party, at least for one term.

Which is exactly what they said when current president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel was eyeing the position.

The arguments then were simple – Palanivel is different from the then president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, calmer, quieter and a man who did not like to speak much. And that, he has been a loyal deputy president and that warranted support for the presidency.

Palanivel inherited a more united MIC, with most of its members voting for him simply because they have had enough of Samy Vellu. The situation is different now – the rift among the members is wide, the party is chaotic, illegal branches all over the country and there is the threat of branches and party de-registeration.

Will the 600,000 party members from all walks of life be able to relate to Dr Subramaniam, a skin doctor who was active in the Hindu Youth Organisation during his earlier days?

Or perhaps the party needed another Samy Vellu to tell them what to do?

While the gun exposure and the ‘timely’ threatening call during press conference was very ‘Kollywood’ to say the least, one could not help but notice how such stunts remind of Samy Vellu.

The MIC presidential election, to be held this year, will be one of the most watched one as party members decide on who should lead them. The next leader should also be one who can boldly criticise and demand changes and implement the changes to rejuvenate the 68-year-old party.

There are also other party leaders who are president hopefuls but are yet to name their candidacy. Former MIC vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan, who made a stunning comeback, winning the highest vote in the VP race in 2013.

His suspension as the deputy minister for Natural Resources and Environment for three months in 2005 over the de-recognition of the Crimea State Medical University (CSMU) medical degree, had earned him some kind of a hero’s attention among the party members.

Despite his absence from the mainstream MIC politics after he contested and lost in the deputy president race in 2009, Sothinathan still has a sizable influence and support in the party.

It is not going to be an easy fight for Dr Subramaniam in his quest to become the MIC's next president.