Challenger to Samy Vellu's throne - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: The race for the MIC party president has begun with MIC Klang division chief's decision to contest.

P. Thiagarasan, 54, or better known as Alex Thiagarasan, told the New Straits Times yesterday that he was vying for the post held for the past 29 years by Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

"I think that I'm worthy of the president's post. But, if there is a better candidate, then I would make way for the person. I will instead vie for the deputy or vice-president's post," he said.

Thiagarasan, who unsuccessfully contested a vice-president's post in the last party election, also called for abolishing the quota system of getting nominations from at least 300 branch chiefs to make a bid for the party's presidency.

He said there must be a concerted attempt to unseat Samy Vellu if he had not gone by the next election, which was not due until next March.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2256168/Article/index_html]