Murugiah to be dropped as deputy minister

Murugiah

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 April — Datuk T. Murugiah is expected to be dropped as deputy minister when his senatorial term expires on Monday, according to MIC sources and his aides.

The former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Youth chief after a prolonged and bitter leadership battle with PPP president left the party and joined MIC last August.

He is a deputy at the Prime Minister’s Department

This development is the clearest sign yet that Datuk Seri Najib Razak will affect a minor administrative reshuffle after Sarawak polls on Saturday.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Murugiah has been officially informed by the prime minister.

Another source informed that Murugiah was informed of the decision last week, but an official letter would be out yesterday.

A source that has seen the letter to Murugiah said that Najib, as Barisan Nasional (BN) chief, informed his term in Senate will not be renewed and thanked him for his service.

Murugiah could not be reached for comment as he is currently campaigning in Sarawak.

A source said Penang MIC chief Datuk P. K. Suppiah will take his Dewan Negara spot.

“Based on the information that I received, Suppiah will only be appointed as senator and not deputy minister,” the source said.

A minister or deputy minister has to be a member of either Dewan Rakyat or Negara.

Under the federal constitution, one can only be a member of Dewan Negara, the upper house of Parliament, for a maximum of two terms, or six years.

Four months before Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu resigned as MIC president, Murugiah was accepted as an official member of the party.

He had been appointed senator and deputy minister while still a PPP member.

MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel recently said that MIC wants to limit its members to just one term as senator to “give power” to leaders in states that BN lost in the 2008 general election.

Palanivel, himself a senator and deputy minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, did not however comment on whether Murugiah had been dropped from the list of senators.

“It’s up to the prime minister to decide, that is his absolute right. I only have the right to suggest but the final decision is in his hands,” he had said.