Yeah, what's new Uncle Samy?

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/3/nation/20080103164029&sec=nation

Thursday January 3, 2008

MIC to hold ‘support for BN’ gatherings

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 15,000 MIC members and supporters will gather here to pledge their support to the Barisan Nasional and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.

He said the gathering, to be held at the Cheras Badminton Stadium on Jan 20, would be the first in a series of gatherings throughout the country aimed at bolstering the party’s strength and support for the Barisan Nasional, ahead of the next general election.

He said besides Abdullah, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, Deputy Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak would also be invited for the gathering.

The Works Minister said the gatherings were also aimed at explaining to party members and the Indian community the struggles, achievements and challenges confronting the community.

“It is also to send a loud and clear message to the opposition that the Indian community will always stand solidly behind Barisan Nasional,” he said in a statement.

Samy Vellu said MIC members were united in thwarting attempts by certain quarters to stir up racial and religious issues for their own political agenda.

He expressed disgust at some opposition parties for using Hindu temples to incite racial and religious issues.

“This is a new trend where they get a few Indians to hold political ceramahs in temples, because they know that people (the Hindus) will come for prayers,” he said.

Samy Vellu urged the Indian community not to be fooled by the opposition and their stooges.

“The Indians must think of their future and the country’s well-being, and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the opposition,” he said.


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Wednesday January 2, 2008

Samy Vellu plans to revamp MIC

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC will be reorganised to make it more effective and efficient in meeting the needs and demands of the Indian community, its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.

He said the 62-year-old party would undertake a “cleaning exercise” to make it more relevant to the Indians.

“The party will change its course to move more effectively to resolve the problems facing the community,” he said.

Samy Vellu said although the methods adopted by the MIC have been successful in resolving the community’s woes, a more concerted effort was needed for the “more difficult and sensitive problems.”

In a statement from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, he said the party would be managed in a different style with a higher efficiency towards serving the people.

Samy Vellu, who is the Works Minister, is in Tamil Nadu en route to New Delhi to attend a three-day conference for People of Indian Origin (PIO), hosted by the India, beginning Jan 7.

He said recently that new faces would be introduced to contest the next general election.

“The people’s expectations have changed and we also need to make changes to remain relevant,” he said.

“We will work in a manner that will benefit the community,” he said, adding that MIC understood the mode of being efficient by “doing the right things”, while at the same time, striving to “do things right”.

Samy Vellu said education would continue to be the main thrust of the party this year, with the official opening of the RM580mil Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST), a university owned by the MIC.

“The creation of more Indian graduates will be our main objective in 2008,” he said, adding that the party’s educational arm, the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED), has been supporting 1,200 medical students overseas annually.