KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) -- MIC supremo Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu today refused to entertain questions from journalists over several thorny issues in the party, claiming that whatever he said would be twisted.

Samy Vellu's usual lively press conference was missing Thursday when he met the media after the party's monthly central working committee (CWC) meeting, and several queries from newsmen were met with a "no comment" reply.

Instead of firing on all cylinders, which is his usual style when answering questions from the media especially on touchy party matters, the former Works Minister opted to stay mum, raising eyebrows of the journalists, most of whom have been covering him for years.

"This is my new style. Because whatever I say is twisted. People draw all kinds of conclusion to whatever I reply. So, I have chosen to speak on important matters at the proper party forums.

"I am not against the media. I have always been known to be close to the media people. But when what I say is twisted by some, then I have to say the minimal and explain to MIC members what I want to tell them," he later told Bernama when met after the CWC meeting at the party headquarters here.

Earlier at the press conference, the long-serving MIC chief was asked for his reaction on the sacking of Petaling Jaya Selatan MIC division chief V. Subramaniam, popularly known as Barat Maniam.

"No comment," was his reply, starting off a series of similar replies to following questions.

Subramaniam was sacked by the party president yesterday for, among others, sending a nasty SMS to Samy Vellu telling him that the MIC did not belong to the MIC president or his family.

Then came the query about the proposed takeover of the party's debt-ridden investment arm Maika Holdings by port tycoon Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam, through a special purpose vehicle, G Team Resources and Holdings Sdn Bhd.

"No comment. This is a company's decision," was his short and stony reply, without even looking at the journalist who posed the question.

Yesterday, G Team Resources served a takeover notice to the Maika Holdings board of directors to acquire all its 125 million voting shares at 80 sen per share in cash.

Then came the cruncher from the reporter: "Will you step down in 2012?" Without even missing a beat, Samy Vellu fired back: "No comment".

Samy Vellu's presidential term expires in 2012 and the pressure is on the 74-year-old who became party chief in 1989 to vacate the seat for his current deputy, Datuk G. Palanivel.

The MIC chief also declined to comment on the action of K.P. Samy, a CWC member, who just after the meeting told journalists that he would initiate a defamation case against MIC Youth chief T. Mohan for calling him "childish" during the meeting.

While Samy Vellu's intention to stick to his new "no comment" policy would stop the "twisting" of facts, it would on the other hand heighten speculation on certain party matters, especially the transition power, which needs to be explained to the 630,000 MIC members.

-- BERNAMA