Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Having Trouble Getting The Message

"I'm prepared to go even now if the Indian community does not want me anymore"

—MIC President, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu (19 February 2008)


"...times have changed... but there is always a new beginning..."

—MIC President (still), Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu (10 March 2008)


In February, when Samy declared his willingness to "go even now if the Indian Community does not want me anymore", I smiled to myself and said, "Yeah right!" Then an outrageous idea struck me. Wouldn't it be nice if he's really voted out of office in the general election? It would be interesting to see if he would really "go". I have nothing against the fellow, but as a keen observer of human psychology, I was just interested to see the reaction; that's all.

Quite unexpectedly, it turned out that Samy was indeed voted out of office. And as I had expected all along, he is still staying on. Didn't the people make it clear that they wanted him to go? Wasn't the message clear enough during the general election? Why is Samy having trouble getting the message?


"Why should I step down? Our party has won."

—Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi [The Star]


Well, you have to admit it, the guy has a point. After all, BN did win the general election, didn't it? And BN still rules the country.

But what was the message from the people through the ballot boxes? Because after all, it's the voice of the people that's what the general election was all about. It is that message that the Prime Minister needs to fathom; not the support from these 500 people who are now worried that they may have to work—I mean really work—to earn a living.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

the PM is a public office, so he should go.

as for his position in UMNO and Samy's in MIC, their members should be the one to decide.

Also, should a leader leave when their party/company is in the worst of shape. Would you for e.g leave your company and abandon the staff whom are depended on you when the going gets tough?

which is why I think Ka Ting is making the right move and a gentleman and so is Penang's Koh.

Anonymous said...

the PM is a public office, so he should go.

as for his position in UMNO and Samy's in MIC, their members should be the one to decide.

Also, should a leader leave when their party/company is in the worst of shape. Would you for e.g leave your company and abandon the staff whom are dependent on you when the going gets tough?

which is why I think Ka Ting is making the right move and a gentleman and so is Penang's Koh.

Cornelius said...

Interesting question there, delurk.

If I was the reason for the downfall of my company, then the least I would do is to offer to step aside and allow someone who's more capable at the helm to take over the job.

No, I won't abandon ship, unless of course if I get kicked out by the crews! I will still help in whatever way I can to steer the ship into the right direction. But I won't fight to remain at the helm.

If necessary, I will let the crews vote who should steer the ship. All those show of support by 500 of them will not make me assume that the thousands upon thousands of others also support me!

Enough with the wrong assumptions! Isn't it evidence enough that the assumption of strong support from the people was horrifyingly wrong in 5 states?