- Vigneswaran Will Return To MIC If Samy Vellu Steps Down

"If Samy Vellu were no longer with the MIC, there is a strong possibility that I will rejoin the party. In fact, many more will join the MIC.

"For as long as it is under Samy Vellu's leadership, I have no intention at all of rejoining, but I hope the MIC will always have a bright future," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby, here Tuesday.

On Sunday, Vigneswaran announced his decision to leave the MIC, saying that he had lost confidence in the leadership of Samy Vellu.

The former Kota Raja Member of Parliament also claimed that he had been humiliated by Samy Vellu when the latter accused him of being involved with the extremist movement, Hindraf, during the last general election in March.

Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth chairman Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said he would always cooperate with anyone appointed to act as the MIC Youth chief.

He said relations between the Youth wings of the BN component parties would not be affected if any individual were to leave the party.

Hishammuddin had earlier received a courtesy call by Vigneswaran at his office at Parliament House.

Meanwhile, the MCA Youth Tuesday refuted the allegation by former Health Minister Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek who claimed that the MCA president, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, declined to defend his post at the party election in October as he could not carry out his task efficiently.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said Chua's statement was incorrect as Ong had stated that his decision not to defend his post was because he wanted to make way for others to lead the party.

-- BERNAMA

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Kedah MIC Youth Brigade Quit En Masse

KULIM, July 2 (Bernama) -- The Kedah MIC Youth Brigade leader and over 1,000 members Wednesday quit en masse in protest against the instruction to S.A. Vigneswaran to vacate his youth chief's post.

The brigade ceased to exist for it no longer had any leader and members, said M. Magendiran, 31, who had headed the brigade.

All youths in MIC were dissatisfied in party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and wanted him to resign, he said.

He said the brigade's move was not the final move of the youths and all its members would join a non-governmental organisation, namely the Malaysia Indian Youth Development Foundation (MIYDF).

"So far, 200 of 1,000 Brigade members have filled up the form to join the welfare organisation which helps Indian youths and communities in the country," he said.

Magendiran added that all members of the brigade were from 11 Kedah MIC Youth divisions and they would remain as ordinary MIC members. They did not intend to join other political parties, he said.

On Friday Kedah MIC Youth head S. Nantha Kumar and several members of his committee stepped down in an attempt to pressure Samy Vellu to relinguish his position in the party for ordering Vigneswaran to quit his post for having passed the age limit of 40.

-- BERNAMA