And Then There Was One.
It must be lonely at the top. At least for Samy Vellu, now that his fellow long-staying geriatric political 'brother' Dr Lim KengYaik announced a "2668" formula to determine when he will give up his post to deputy Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.
Dr Lim said the figure represents the 26 years he has held the post and his age at 68 on April 8 next year.
Based on that formula, he said with tongue firmly in cheek, he should retire some time between April and October next year when the party would hold its leadership election.
"I cannot continue after that because the numbers 27 and 69 carry an obscene meaning in the Cantonese dialect," he said before bursting into laughter when he spoke to reporters after opening the Penang Gerakan delegates conference today.
He was earlier asked whether it was true that he would step down in March.
**** Although sounding more like a 4D punter than a medical doctor politician, his statement brings to a conclusion the speculation on the 2nd most senior leftover from an earlier era. That leaves the pugnacious Samy Vellu who, if what I've been told is correct, would like to stay on for another decade or so to get things in 'order' and 'pave the way' for his successor!
Apparently the short shrift that Dr Mahathir has been given by the present leadership has led to some rethinking by Samy Vellu on his exit strategy. One astute political observer says that the Indians in Malaysia have a remarkable ingratitude when it comes to Indian politicians and their contributions. "What have they done for us?" is the question all of them ask almost reflexly. Whether there is any justification for that question I don't know. But if it is true then I suppose that these politicians have to ensure that they remain at the very top for as long as they can and then go out only if circumstances or death demand it, for there will be very little to look forward to from the Indian community when once out of power.
For whatever reason that Samy Vellu may want to cling on to power, one thing is sure and that is, he is now the only remaining head of a BN component party who still defiantly remains in office. In a way it is an insult to a talented and learned community that they have failed to throw up leaders of substance for the past three decades and while the political status quo has been stubbornly maintained, educated Indians remain either sidelined or don't care for their community while selfishly preferring to enrich themselves and reflexly ask that same question, "what have they done for us?"
Dr Lim said the figure represents the 26 years he has held the post and his age at 68 on April 8 next year.
Based on that formula, he said with tongue firmly in cheek, he should retire some time between April and October next year when the party would hold its leadership election.
"I cannot continue after that because the numbers 27 and 69 carry an obscene meaning in the Cantonese dialect," he said before bursting into laughter when he spoke to reporters after opening the Penang Gerakan delegates conference today.
He was earlier asked whether it was true that he would step down in March.
**** Although sounding more like a 4D punter than a medical doctor politician, his statement brings to a conclusion the speculation on the 2nd most senior leftover from an earlier era. That leaves the pugnacious Samy Vellu who, if what I've been told is correct, would like to stay on for another decade or so to get things in 'order' and 'pave the way' for his successor!
Apparently the short shrift that Dr Mahathir has been given by the present leadership has led to some rethinking by Samy Vellu on his exit strategy. One astute political observer says that the Indians in Malaysia have a remarkable ingratitude when it comes to Indian politicians and their contributions. "What have they done for us?" is the question all of them ask almost reflexly. Whether there is any justification for that question I don't know. But if it is true then I suppose that these politicians have to ensure that they remain at the very top for as long as they can and then go out only if circumstances or death demand it, for there will be very little to look forward to from the Indian community when once out of power.
For whatever reason that Samy Vellu may want to cling on to power, one thing is sure and that is, he is now the only remaining head of a BN component party who still defiantly remains in office. In a way it is an insult to a talented and learned community that they have failed to throw up leaders of substance for the past three decades and while the political status quo has been stubbornly maintained, educated Indians remain either sidelined or don't care for their community while selfishly preferring to enrich themselves and reflexly ask that same question, "what have they done for us?"
posted by The Malaysian. at 8/07/2006 10:38:00 AM
2 Comments:
If the Indian community have become an ungrateful, self-serving, insular lot, and Samy is concerned that no-one will 'tegur' him once out of power, then he only has himself to blame. He had all that time to develop the sense of community and belonging and cohesion within that community, much less work on integrating them into the mainstream fabric of Malaysian life. Karma is a powerful thing, and Samy knows it, and is afraid. So he should rightly be. The man has had it too good for too long.
"What have done for me lately, Sameeee?"
- Eddie Murphy mimicking Janet. J in RAW
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