YOURSAY | Love him or hate him, Samy was a towering personality

YOURSAY | ‘Say what you like, this man was a legend in Malaysian politics.’

Tributes pour in for Samy Vellu

MS: In some ways a polarising figure among Indians, former MIC president S Samy Vellu was, if nothing else, a political street fighter of a leader who never backed away from a good skirmish regardless of who that might be.

I last met him in 2019 at a well-known local eatery in the suburbs, by which time he was already showing signs of cognitive decline.

It is significant that he has passed in the same year as his one-time vice-president and nemesis, S Subramaniam - the suave, well-spoken and mild-mannered scholar who was really no match for the loud, in-your-face belligerence of his party boss.

But his politics aside, Samy must be remembered as one of the most hard-working cabinet members of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's era, one whose bulldozed achievements in the Works Ministry impressed both friend and foe, in different ways.

For that and more, he has secured a prominent place in the country's history.

Cogito Ergo Sum: @MS, an apt and fair summary of who the man, Samy Vellu, was. He was a fighter indeed, a brawler who was politically street smart and, he had a sense of humour as well.

At one highway toll opening ceremony, after his speech, he told the press, “See you all at the next toll opening ceremony.”

Tolls were and still are unpopular. But he had the knack of making you smile despite the obvious hardship it would cause commuters.

Go now to that eternal highway in the sky, Samy.

Mazilamani: Samy Vellu had fought a good fight, even winning the respect of his political adversaries.

It is not easy to lead a party made up of colourful members divided by numberless dividing factors which only an Indian will understand. But what mattered most, he did his best to hold them together.

As mentioned by MS, he was a street fighter and never retreated from a good skirmish. He also helped and spoke up for other races and opponents, be it DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang or the late Karpal Singh. Within him, he was a good man.

I wish to share a story told to me by my friend, a human resources manager with a Japanese company.

His security staff had approached him to share his sad story of his daughter being disbelievingly rejected to do law in Universiti Malaya. She secured straight As in Arts subjects.

My friend requested a meeting with Samy. His first comment, when he saw my friend, the father and daughter, he said, "Many approach me for help claiming outstanding STPM results. Let me see yours."

Looking at the results, he said, "(Yet) they still rejected you. Choose any varsity in England, I will personally sponsor your studies." And he did.

Many have benefitted from him. Though he could not help all, he did what he could as an Indian leader. He was approachable, unlike others.

He also kept good relationships with Malay and Chinese political and community leaders. God bless his soul.

Vijay47: As a politician, there are elements in Samy Vellu’s record that many will be disappointed by.

As an Indian, I feel that he could have done much more for the Indian community even as he made contributions to the nation as a whole.

Yet like him or hate him, there is much about Samy that places him on a pedestal higher than many others are meant for.

To his family, I offer my profound condolences, bearing in mind that “the good is oft interred with the bones”. Rest in peace, Sir.

Sun: It’s fascinating to read the sincere tributes from MPs on both sides of the political divide. Very few politicians have drawn such tribute.

I was particularly amazed by DAP leader Lim Guan Eng's recollection. In many ways, that is how politics should be conducted. Disagreements in principle, but never disagreeable at the personal level.

Samy had his faults, as do all of us, and his aggressive style aggrieved many. But among his greatest services to the country are the fine network of highways we happily use and the establishment of

Asian Institute of Medical, Science and Technology University (AIMST).

AIMST helped a lot of Indians and non-Indians when other pathways to a medical degree were either unaffordable or closed. That institution has largely and wisely kept politicians out of its administration and continues to prosper.

He certainly made an impact on Malaysian politics as no other Indian politician has done since independence. May he rest in peace and my heartfelt condolences to his grieving family.

Esviel: Yes, love him or hate him, there is no denying that Samy Vellu was a towering personality. He did things his way and heaven help anyone who stood in the way.

While he did contribute to Malaysians in general and the Indian community in particular, Samy's performance can best be described as self-serving.

However, compared to many other politicians of his era (I did not want to compare his performance with that of the current motley crew in the current cabinet, otherwise Samy will qualify for sainthood), one cannot help but appreciate his efforts. RIP Samy!

Kajang Prisoner: Back in 1986, I attended a function in Kedah where Samy Vellu was invited to open a new block of a Tamil school. The state education director was missing and the district education officer, who represented the director, came 10 minutes after Samy had arrived.

Right in front of all the guests plus students, Samy gave the district education officer an earful and ordered him to direct the state education director to be present immediately.

Samy, when he means business, he really means it! No minister from MCA or MIC would have dared do that.

Anon25: Say what you like, this man was a legend in Malaysian politics. He brought colour and laughter to an otherwise dull Parliament.

He served under four prime ministers, each one of them counting him as a political heavyweight. He studied entirely in a Tamil school. Yet he was fluent in Malay and English.

He surmised that a bald-headed leader would not last because he would be perceived as being old. So as soon as he was elected MIC president, he set out to correct this problem. He chose a procedure and a surgeon that gave him a full head of hair. He continued to look young even in his 80s.

Many of us, Malaysians of all races, will miss him.

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