BATU PAHAT: The MIC is confident of regaining the support of over one-third of the Indians, who abandoned the party, with its re-branding exercise.

“I am sure that we can get back 35% of the Indian voters who left us,” said party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

Speaking at the opening of a “Rebranding Workshop” here yesterday, he said leaders of 1,350 branches had undergone the exercise aimed at forging closer ties between the party’s branches and the people in the past three months.

“We have another 1,950 branches to go. By February next year, we should be able to cover the whole of Malaysia,” he said.

Samy Vellu said he had seen some changes in the members and grassroots leaders who attended the exercise.

He said the workshop also acted as a platform for grassroots leaders to voice out their views and ideas to the central-level.

On his successor, Samy said the candidate must be able to speak up for the people and the party, adding that he would step down when everything was in place.

“I cannot just leave like this. I have to revamp the party first,” he said.

Samy said the party would practise democracy and members would be allowed to choose their next leader.

“I will not name anyone, it will be an open race,” he said.

Samy said at least four party leaders were eyeing the president’s post so far.

He, however, declined to name them.