Gerakan Anti-Palanivel in the offing

If the MIC president decides to contest in Cameron Highlands, an ex-MIC branch chairman warns that he will kick off the GAP movement.

PETALING JAYA: A disgruntled former MIC branch chief intends to launch “Gerakan Anti Palanivel” (GAP) if MIC president G Palanivel proceeds with his plan to contest the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat in the next general election.

Former Taman Mujur, Klang, MIC branch chairman V Thiagarajan, or popularly known as VT Rajan said he will launch the movement to oust Palanivel if the MIC chief does not return the seat to incumbent SK Devamany, who is also deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Speaking to FMT today, the rebel leader said he would kick off GAP with a gathering on nomination day for the next general election.

He said the movement would draw attention of the Barisan Nasional top leadership and “expose Palanivel’s true colours”.

Rajan was expelled from the party in March this year for failing to apologise for his statement against the party leadership.

He had earlier threatened to form GAP if Palanivel contested any of the four parliamentary seats held by MIC.

The party touted as the largest Indian-based political party in the country won only three of the nine parliamentary seats it contested under the BN banner in the 2008 general election. It won back another seat in a 2010 by-election.

The four seats are Segamat, held by deputy president and Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam; Cameron Highlands and Tapah held by vice-presidents and deputy ministers Devamany and M Saravanan respectively; and through a 2010 by-election, Hulu Selangor (P Kamalanathan).

Secret meetings

Rajan said Palanivel should allow the incumbents to defend their seats instead of “grabbing” the safest seat for his own political survival.

Palanivel was reported to have had a series of secret meetings with Cameron Highlands Umno leaders, allegedly to topple Devamany.

“No right thinking MIC president has ever done this sort of thing before. He is doing a number on his own leaders,” Rajan added.

He claimed that Palanivel often visited Cameron Highlands and had spent few hundred thousand ringgit to beef up his strength in the highlands.

Rajan said he kept silent on the matter for the last six months but immense support he received since announcing the idea to form GAP had forced him to make a stand.

The former branch chairman said he had also received calls from MCA and MIC leaders from Cameron Highlands, who vouched their support for the movement.

“There is nothing personal between me and Palanivel. As a party member it is my responsibility to protect the party from people who try to tarnish MIC for their own agenda,” he added.

The MIC president lost the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat in the 2008 election with a razor thin 198 vote majority.

He was dropped as BN candidate for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat by-election in 2010. The BN top leadership picked Kamalanathan saying that the newcomer as a winnable candidate.

Clear the air on MIED

Rajan also wanted an explanation on the status the Maju Institute for Education Development (MIED), MIC’s education arm.

“Palanivel should clear the air on the status of MIED which runs the AIMST University. It was build with the people’s money. It also received a lot of aid from the government. Now there is talk that AIMST would be privatised after the next general election.

“Normally the MIC president heads the MIED board of directors. But in December, 2011 Palanivel and former vice president KS Nijhar resigned from the board saying that they were saddled with too many responsibilities. But the truth is Palanivel resigned because he could not fight (former president) S Samy Vellu in the board and take over,” claimed Rajan.

He said party members were in the dark over the matter and several police reports had been lodged on the alleged misappropriation of AIMST funds.

“It is Palanivel’s responsibility to explain this matter to MIC members and public at large,” he added.