‘Only a weak leader will delay naming senators’

MIC party president comes under fire for delaying the naming of candidates for the vacant senate posts.

PETALING JAYA: The failure to fill the three senator posts vacant since 2012 reflects the poor leadership and decision-making by the MIC president, said former party Youth chief T Mohan.

Mohan said the president, G Palanivel, had the prerogative to decide on the candidates and should have done so promptly.

MIC also has an additional senate seat in return for giving up the Perak state seat during last year’s general election.

“Palanivel should fill the posts without further delay to end the criticism levelled against him,” said Mohan.

He also suggested that the Youth and Woman wings be given an opportunity to fill the senate posts.

Kedah MIC delegate K Somasundram meanwhile said the president should step down if he failed to fill the senate posts.

Somasundram said the delay in filling the posts showed that the president was inept to lead the party.

“The senate posts are allocated by the government and the party should grab the opportunity by appointing the right people. It is a waste if it is not done so.

“The president should also reveal the names for the senate posts,” he said.

Senators are paid RM6, 000 a month, including an allowance.

Palanivel has remained tight-lipped on naming the three senators who will be sworn in during the next Dewan Negara session in June.

The three posts were previously held by Tapah MIC division chairman Dr S. Malasingam, whose term ended in March 2012, Penang MIC chairman PK Subbaiyah, who died a month after being appointed and Palanivel, who resigned to contest the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat last year.

MIC’s three current senators are V Subramaniam @ Barat Maniam, A Sivabakiam and Jaspal Singh whowere appointed in 2011 with their term expiring this year.

It has been reported earlier that vice-president S Sothinathan, treasurer-general S Murugessan and former deputy Youth chief V Mugilan are the three likely candidates.