MIC polls long overdue

Party insiders claim that the party has been dragging its feet to call for its internal election, especially the presidential polls.

PETALING JAYA: The long overdue MIC presidential election must be held as soon as possible as the term of the current president has already expired, a party source revealed today.

The source, who declined to be named, told FMT that MIC held its presidential election in March, 2009 and four years have passed since.

“The MIC central working committee is silent on this. They can only hold party elections for other posts (deputy president, three vice-presidents and 25 central working committee members) after the presidential election. Before this the party must hold elections at the division level.

“It all came to a standstill due to the impending general election. The presidential election should have been held in 2012 but was postponed due to the general election. But no leader in the party is talking about the party election. The last party election was in 2009, one year after the 12th general election. Now, there is speculation that the polls would be pushed to next year.

“From then to now, no leader has come out and spoken about party polls. This is the problem in MIC. Everyone just wants to secure their position and sit on it forever. They do not give any thought to the wellbeing of the party,” said the source.

In the March 2009 presidential election, then party supremo S Samy Vellu retained the presidency for a record 11th consecutive term. He won the top post uncontested.

Under the party constitution, a presidential aspirant needs to obtain 50 nominations, with each nomination needing one proposer and five seconders, to be eligible to contest. All proposers and seconders must be branch chairmen.

The MIC president would be picked by about 3,700 branch chairmen nationwide in the event of a contest compared to other top national posts which are decided by some 1,500 divisional delegates who attend the party’s annual general assembly.

Samy Vellu, who was works minister before his defeat in the 2008 general election in his parliamentary constituency of Sungai Siput, had been at the helm of the largest Indian-based political party since 1979, when he became the acting president after the death of then president V Manikavasagam.

He stepped down in December, 2010 paving the way for current party chief G Palanivel to become MIC’s acting president.

Palani only acting president

“Palanivel’s presidency is now null and void. The last election was in March 2009 and the current term came to an end in March 2012. Even if the party’s central working committee extended the polls, it can only be delayed for a period of some 18 months after the expiry of the term. Even if this is done the presidential election must be held by September this year.

“So on technical grounds, Palanivel who is only acting president should call for fresh presidential election soon if he wants to stay on,” said the source.

A MIC central working committee member told FMT that the party’s highest decision making body only spoke about the presidential elections once or twice at its monthly meetings so far.

“The only time I remember is the committee decided to postpone the presidential and party elections after the general election… but after the elections can even mean next year,” he said.

Former MIC secretary general G Vadiveloo told FMT that the presidential election can only be postponed by the central working committee.

“It was supposed to be held in March this year but was postponed to June. I feel the presidential election should be held this year,” he said.

Proxy battle taking shape

Meanwhile, another proxy battle is taking shape in the party. Samy Vellu, who commands at least 45% support in the party, wants a new leader to replace Palanivel.

“Samy Vellu still commands good support in the party. He feels Palanivel has not done anything to improve the party. Samy Vellu has also picked another leader to take on Palanivel in the party election.

“Samy Vellu was pressured to leave after MIC only won three parliamentary and seven state seats. Now under Palanivel, the party just won one extra parliamentary seat but lost two more state seats. Is that improvement? Is the Malaysian Indian community turning its back on MIC and Barisan Nasional because of us? Sadly the answer to both these questions is a big ‘no’.

“The Indian community has come back, no doubt about that. A total 60% to 65% Indians voted for BN. This is because of Prime Minister (Najib Tun Razak) and not because of MIC or Palanivel,” said a MIC central working committee member.

He said MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam is the front runner for the party top post.

Subramaniam, who was the human resources minister prior to the polls, has proven himself to be a capable leader. He is also hailed as a hero after winning the Segamat parliamentary seat beating former MCA vice president and PKR Johor chief Chua Jui Meng.

It is an open secret in MIC that Samy Vellu was the one who brought Subramaniam into the party and rocketed him to national positions in no time.

It is also not clear when the party’s central working committee would meet next.