Storm brewing in MIC over senator posts

The president has apparently finalised three names. But he has promised more than 50 people senatorship posts and they are upset.

PETALING JAYA: A storm is brewing in MIC over the rumoured appointment of three leaders to fill three vacant senator’s posts.

Party sources claimed that party president G Palanivel has finalised former Youth chief SA Vickneswaran, party strategy bureau director and former president S SamyVellu’s son S Vell Paari and Bagan Dalam division chief Henry Benedict Aasirvatham to fill the three slots.

“These three names will not go down well with other party leaders who feel that they have been betrayed,” said a source.

He added that despite Palanivel having finalised the list, he has not sent it to the Prime Minister’ Department due to mounting pressure from party leaders.

According to him, Central Working Committee (CWC) member KP Samy has tendered his resignation letter after being overlooked for the senatorship.

“He was promised senatorship by the party president. But, Palanivel has ‘cheated’ him by appointing someone else,” said the MIC man.

However, it is learnt that Palanivel – the newly elected Cameron Highlands MP – has refused to accept the resignation letter which was handed to him on Monday.

It is also believed that another CWC member is ready to follow in KP Samy’s footsteps.

“It is all because of Palanivel, who promised more than 50 leaders a senatorship. And now they are upset,” he added.

Currently, MIC has three vacant senator seats following the expiry of the senatorship terms for Palanivel, CWC member Dr M Malasingam and the late PK Suppiah.

It is also learnt that the Perak state government has allocated an additional two senatorships to MIC after MIC gave up one of its state seats to Umno during the 13th general election.

“While these three nominations could be mere speculation, it would severely undermine Palanivel’s leadership if it was true,” said the source.

According to him, by choosing these leaders, it is clear that the president is only focusing on strengthening his position in the party elections.

“Speculation is rife that Samy Vellu is working very hard to axe Palanivel. So he hopes to counter this by giving his son a senatorship,” said the source.

Furthermore, the source added that Vell Paari has a strong relationship with MIC branch chairmen and this would help Palanivel to gain more support from the grassroots leaders during the presidential election.

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.