Congrats, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, for the being bestowed “Wira Kaum India” (Champion of Indians) by Indian Progressive Front (IPF) President Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan at the IPF general assembly where the MIC President announced a RM500,000 grant towards the construction of IPF headquarters in Serdang.
It is reported that IPF still owes close to RM800,000 on the RM5 million building.
As Samy Vellu had been the sole obstacle to IPF’s long-standing application to join Barisan Nasional, will the MIC President now giving his blessing to IPF’s entry into BN following his rapprochement with Pandithan?
The Star carries an interesting account of the Pandithan-Samy Vellu feud and rapprochement –
Friends forever — Pandithan and Samy By A. LETCHUMANAN KUALA LUMPUR: Once good friends, they became bitter political rivals. Yesterday, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and IPF president Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan announced their undying relationship in front of 3,000 IPF delegates. They hugged with tears in their eyes. The delegates burst into applause. “Once we were friends, then we separated and now we have rejoined. This friendship is permanent and there is no departure. I will only depart at my death,” said Pandithan. He said the MIC supremo was the “true leader of the Indian community” and bestowed the Wira Kaum India title on Samy Vellu at IPF’s 15th general assembly. Samy Vellu turned poetic when describing the respect Pandithan enjoyed among his followers. Pandithan, who once regarded Samy Vellu as his mentor, was an MIC vice-president, Tapah MP and parliamentary secretary to the Trade and Industry Ministry in June 1988. He was sacked after he started a fast-to-death effort in a bid to get charges of inciting violence and unrest within the party dropped. He also brought a coffin to the MIC headquarters in protest. After expulsion from MIC on July 16, 1988, Pandithan tried to return to the party but was unsuccessful and in August 1990, he formed IPF. His several attempts to join Barisan were thwarted by Samy Vellu and his scathing attacks on the MIC president failed to make headway. However, when Pandithan fell ill and was hospitalised last year, Samy Vellu visited him and the two fell into an emotional reunion.