Split in Johor MIC over who to support

The much anticipated tussle between MIC chief and his deputy for the MIC top post next month has split the party in Johor.

PETALING JAYA: The eagerly awaited tussle for the MIC top post between party chief G Palanivel and his deputy Dr S Subramaniam has caused a split in Johor MIC.

The anticipated head-on clash between Palanivel, who is also Natural Resources and Environment Minister, and Dr Subramaniam, the Health Minister, has also put Johor MIC chief KS Balakrishnan in a tight spot, sources revealed.

“Balakrishnan is divided. Dr Subramaniam is the only MIC parliamentarian in Johor. He has strong support in the state. Palanivel on the other hand is the party president. Balakrishnan has to pick between the two.

“This is his dilemma. If he goes for Palanivel, he will offend Dr Subramaniam. Supporters of the deputy president might decide not to work with him in the state. On the other hand, if he supports Dr Subramaniam, he would face backlash from those supporting Palanivel,” said the source.

The source said Balakrishnan and other state leaders caught in the same predicament are hoping that Palanivel and Dr Subramaniam would reach a compromise and relieve them from this uncertain situation.

He said Dr Subramaniam, to date, has support from 17 out of the 26 divisions in the state.

A division leader who did not want to be named, said although Balakrishnan mooted a resolution at a state meeting recently calling for a no-contest for the party top two positions, the ground was not very receptive to the idea.

“It is an open secret that the state chief was asked to table the resolution by a national leader aligned to Palanivel. We all know that…it was not Balakrishnan’s own wish. He might have tabled it on a personal basis keeping party unity in mind,” he said.

Internal bickering

The source also said internal politicking as a result of the anticipated national leadership tussle seems to be getting out of hand.

“Meetings are being held without even informing the state chief or selected leaders. There was one meeting by Dr Subramaniam which was attended by 400 out of the 500-odd branch chairmen in the state.

“If Dr Subramaniam decides to go for the top post, at least one of the three MIC state assemblymen and six division leaders in Johor will openly support the Health Minister. Dr Subramaniam will get from 50% and 60% support of branch leaders in the state.

“Most of the branch chairmen in Johor are personally close to Dr Subramaniam. He has been the Segamat member of parliament for three terms now. There is growing sympathy for him,” said the source.

Nominations for the MIC presidential election is on Sept 1, while polling has been fixed for Sept 22.

Palanivel has announced that he would defend the post and that if he wins, this would be his last term as party president. Dr Subramaniam meanwhile has been coy over the matter but sources revealed that the Health Minister would take on Palanivel in the presidential elections.

The MIC president would be picked by some 3,900 branch chairmen. Elections for other national positions — deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee members — would be held in November.