MIC in rigor mortis

Akin to a body in the mortuary, MIC urgently needs an autopsy to salvage some functioning parts, if there are any left indeed.

COMMENT

MIC never was and never will be the true voice of the Indians who for long have been sidestepped by not only the government but also the opposition parties.

They are only needed when elections and by-elections come a-calling to their corridors; when politicians suddenly see the need to hand out sarees and mutton biryani to win their votes; especially in the rural areas.

Coming back to MIC, first and foremost what on earth is the president doing after “clinching” a negotiated win? Even mammals that hibernate must spring into action when the time comes to hunt food.

But here we have a party president who has been in prolonged hibernation mode, though there is so much of babel going around him for months now.

G Palanivel has miniaturised his role to only cutting ribbons at functions and shaking hands. He has minus freezing point political aptitude in handling any crisis or dilemma of the Indian community.

Well, forget about the Indians, he does not even have an inkling to what is brewing within his own circle for the matter.

All he wants is his presidential seat and the empty status that comes with the job. With all the in-fighting unfolding in MIC since its party elections last year, MIC has evolved from a headless chicken running in town into a quadriplegic tortoise.

The hard shell of the tortoise is representative of the president’s stubbornness to acknowledge the fact that his limbs are no longer neurologically active.

Palanivel must be made to realise and shaken vigorously to search deep into his soul that it is time to relinquish his presidency to a more capable and pro-active personality.

Let Dr Subra take over

One is his own deputy, Dr S Subramaniam. The question one may ask is: Will it make much or any difference for the matter?

Well for the sake of arguing, it may not be much of a gamble anyway as MIC is already practically in the mortuary.

Maybe (remotely and with the benefit of doubt) a detailed and meticulous autopsy may reveal the real reasons of the state MIC is currently in. A daunting task for sure but then somebody needs to get their hands soiled before MIC gets decomposed beyond recognition!

At times it is unimaginable that Palanivel cannot smell the odour radiating from the grassroots dissatisfaction despite being the Natural Resources and Environment Minister.

His maladroit attitude has resulted in greater factions within MIC that have brought more shame than fame after the 13th general election.

The Prime Minister may well be scratching his head now for giving four cabinet positions to a dead organisation.

There are no two ways about it. Palanivel must retreat immediately and not wait for the next party polls to do so in 2016, as agreed with PM Najib Tun Razak.

It is not so much as to save the party per se, but more to control further irreversible damage to the Indian community.

Narinder Singh is a FMT team member.