PALANIVEL NEXT TO BE OUSTED? Tension mounts as MIC members await their president's move

KUALA LUMPUR - Tension has started mounting as MIC members await word on the next move from party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel following the Registrar of Societies (ROS) directive to conduct a fresh election for posts of CWC and vice-presidents.

Leaders and members from various levels were reported in media over the past one week to have called on the party president to quickly address the issue.

Palanivel, who is also the Natural Resources and Environment Minister has been on a 12-day working visit to Peru attending the a Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In a short message service (SMS) text, Palanivel said he would meet the party election committee to solve the issue when he returns to Kuala Lumpur today.

"I will meet them to decide on actions that need to be taken," he said.

Last Friday, the ROS ordered the party to hold fresh elections for the party's 23 Central Working Committee (CWC) members and post of three vice-presidents within 90 days, following alleged irregularities and breach of the party's constitution and Societies Act.

It also ordered the MIC to hold fresh elections for eight divisions within 60 days, namely Bayan Baru, Bukit Gelugor, Subang, Bandar Baru Kulim, Taiping, Tambun, Sepang and Jasin.

The ROS had also ordered the party to hold re-elections for Batu Kawan (deputy chairman's post), Kota Raja (division chairman's post), Tanjung Malim (division chairman's post) and Taman Koperasi Polis (branch chairman's post) within 30 days.

Two branches – Merlimau Utara and Rumah Pangsa Pekeliling Selatan – will also hold re-election, within 30 days.

The ROS has advised the party not to hold its annual general meeting until the matter was resolved.

The party was scheduled to hold its assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre beginning with the women, youth, Putera and Puteri wings last Sunday with the AGM to be held on Dec 13 and 14.

The MIC elections held last year saw a contest among eight senior leaders for the post of three vice-presidents while 88 candidates, among them two women, vied for the 23 CWC posts.

The election for vice-presidents was won by Datuk S. Sothinathan, Datuk M. Saravanan and Datuk S. Balakrishnan. – Bernama