Show-cause letter for Vell Paari

Former MIC strategic director S Vell Paari will be issued a show-cause letter for issuing statements against the party president.

UPDATED

PETALING JAYA: The MIC disciplinary committee will issue a show-cause letter to former party strategic director S Vell Paari for issuing statements against party president G Palanivel in the media.

The committee will also issue a similar show-cause letter to Shah Alam MIC branch chairman S Vaithialingam.

Disciplinary committee head K S Nijhar said the duo would be given 14 days to reply to the show-cause letters.

“We will proceed with further action only after receiving their replies to the show-cause letters,” he said.

He said this after a 90-minute disciplinary committee meeting at the party headquarters here this morning.

Other committee members who attended the meeting were Randhir Singh, A Ganeson, A Prakash Rao and Selva Mookiah.

FMT learnt that a few other leaders are also being monitored by the committee for making statements against Palanivel in the media.

Two days ago, Vell Paari issued a press statement against Palanivel, who is also the Natural Resources and Environment Minister, for failing to alert and update the public on the haze and the prolonged drought.

Vell Paari, who is also Kepong division chief, urged the minister to take into view the plight of Malaysians in facing the haze problem.

Vell Paari is the son of former party president S Samy Vellu.

Allegations against Vaithialingam is still unclear.

This would be the first time the committee had taken action against a party “big-wig” since Palanivel became the MIC president in 2010.

The committee’s action comes after Palanivel faced a barrage of attacks from several quarters not only for his role as party chief but also as Natural Resources and Environment Minister.

The move is set put Palanivel under tremendous pressure as the president had previously said he was ready to face criticisms from party members.

Palanivel, after taking the helm of the party from Samy Vellu in 2010, had also vowed to put an end to issuance of show-cause letters and sacking of members.

In an immediate reaction, Vell Paari told FMT that he was not at all surprised with the issuance of the show cause letter by the party disciplinary committee.

“It is a bit premature to comment on it as I have yet to receive the letter. I need to know the charge against me before replying the letter,” he told.

Vell Paari said he would be going to the MIC headquarters himself to receive the letter.

“Once I have read it’s content, I will take the necessary steps to defend myself,” he added.