Thousands back me, says Palanivel, but still no date for polls

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel celebrates his 66th birthday in front of hundreds of party members at the MIC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. He says thousands are behind him despite criticism that he is tightening his grip on the party. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, March 1, 2015.

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, who has come under fire over his handling of the party’s crisis following its disputed election for office bearers in 2013, today declared that he has the support of more than 3,000 branches ahead of his meetings with divisions and branches beginning in April.

"More than 3,000 branches will support me...I will go and meet all levels," he said at his 66th birthday celebration at the MIC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He also said more than 2,000 people attended today's celebration, including all branch leaders.

He added that he had close to 800,000 people who supported him on Facebook, including NGOs, members and non-members.

"I see it on Facebook, close to 800,000 people support me, NGOs, members and non-members," he said, adding that he even had the support of one of his critics, P. Ramasamy, the deputy chief minister of Penang.

However, a check on his official Facebook account showed only a total of 10,075 likes as of this evening.

On the date of the party's central working committee (CWC) meeting, he said he needed to discuss with the party first before making an announcement.

"I will discuss with my party. I have not set anything. I need to discuss with another person. I cannot say anything now. I need to discuss (first)," he said without revealing the identity of the person.

The Registrar of Societies's (RoS) had ordered MIC to hold fresh polls for certain executive positions as well as for the central working committee posts, or risk deregistration.

But Palanivel has been accused of stalling the elections to tighten his grip on the party, with one of his moves being appointments of new party leaders at state level.

Last month the party’s deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam announced he would contest the number one party post, challenging Palanivel for control.

Dr Subramaniam was nowhere to be seen today’s celebration, and neither were Vice President Datuk M Saravanan, Youth leader C Sivarraajh and Wanita Chief M Mohana.

Palanivel said his birthday wish was that all those who supported him would continue their support.

"The most important wish, all these people who supported me, they continue to strongly support me, we need to put MIC in proper order,"

MIC Vice President I Datuk S Sothinathan and Vice President III Datuk S Balakrishnan, who were also present, addressed the packed hall.

Sothinathan said although the invitations for the birthday celebration were only sent out yesterday, many party leaders turned up to show their support for Palanivel.

Barisan Nasional Chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had previously met Palanivel and Dr Suramaniam to solve the BN component party’s internal crisis.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also had suggested that MIC hold fresh elections, including at branch and division-level between April and July this year, to avoid deregistration.

He said RoS's order was meant to end the party's conflict over the election of leaders representing the Indian community.

- TMI