‘Palani quitting MIED a pre-arranged drama’

Samy Vellu had prior knowledge of MIC chief's intention after the former had made it known that he would not relinquish his grip on MIED, claims a branch leader.

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president G Palanivel’s resignation as a board member of Maju Institute for Education Development (MIED) last month was a pre-arranged drama, charged a branch leader.

V Thiagarajen, the Taman Mujur MIC branch chairman, said Palanivel’s intention to not seek re-election was known to MIED chairman S Samy Vellu.

Thiagarajen, better known as VT Rajen, said Palanivel made the decision after Samy Vellu, his former mentor, had made it known to the MIC chief that he would not vacate the post.

“Palanivel has been keen on the MIED chairman’s post since he took over the party in December 2010. But he now knows Samy Vellu’s iron grip on MIED would be hard to dislodge,” he said.

“Judiciously, Palanivel resigned, perhaps to avoid the embarrassment of not being able to secure the position of MIED chief.”

It is also an open secret that Samy Vellu had lobbied to be retained as MIED chairman prior to its annual general meeting about a month ago.

The MIED board of trustees are T Marimuthu, G Vadiveloo, S Veerasingam, Dr S Subramaniam, M Saravanan, T Rajagopalu and KS Balakrishnan.

Palanivel and Nijhar were also on the board before they tendered their resignation. Apart from these MIC leaders, MIED is also made up of members most of whom are in the party’s central working committee (CWC).

‘Time to reshuffle MIED via a referendum’

Most of the party’s CWC members are aligned to Samy Vellu as they were elected during his long 30-year tenure as party supremo.

To replace the chairman, Palanivel needed to obtain approval of 75 percent of them at the annual general meeting (AGM). This would have been an impossible task for the MIC chief as Samy Vellu still commands considerable support from MIED members and trustees alike.

The MIED is the party’s cash cow with assests amounting to nearly RM1 billion. It administers, among others, the Tafe College in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, and the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology in Semeling, Kedah.

It also provides loans for education purposes for needy Indian students via a revolving grant provided for by the government.

Rajen claimed that the time has come to reshuffle MIED set-up after Samy Vellu had strengthened his position by appointing new members who are beholden to him.

“MIC members should call for a referendum to decide who should hold the MIED chairman’s post,” said VT Rajen.

MIED, the MIC’s educational arm, was formed in 1984.

It held its 24th AGM on Nov 14 at the Dynasty Hotel where Palanivel and veteran party leader KS Nijhar resigned as board members.

Both claimed that they are saddled with too many responsibilities to handle.

Palanivel is also a Minister in the Prime Minister Department minister while Nijhar is chair of a public-private sector initiative, overseeing a matriculation centre.

When contacted today, Nijhar, however, denied rumours that he and Palanivel had left MIED due to Samy Vellu’s reluctance to step down.

“The rumours are not true but there is no question that I am Palanivel’s man,” he said.