Palanivel supporters warn BN of losing Indian votes

Thousands gather in KL to rally around party leader ahead of rival assembly tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC leaders sounded a warning to Barisan Nasional leader Najib Razak today of a possible loss of support from Malaysian Indian voters at the next general election.

Johor MIC chairman Balakrishnan pointed to the large show of support for embattled MIC president G Palanivel at a “special assembly” of MIC members at Putra World Trade Centre.

“We gathered 10,000 people here in 48 hours. This must reach the PM,” Balakrishnan said, according to Malaysian Insider. “If BN wants the Indian votes in the next GE, Palanivel must be president. If something goes wrong, BN will lose the Indian votes,” he said.

Earlier, Palanivel himself had blamed Najib for the MIC’s current problems, in which the party has been ordered to hold fresh elections for all positions.

Thousands had attended the gathering, and banners with a portrait of Palanivel lined the roads to PWTC. Supporters were also given a copy of the MIC newsletter containing articles on the party leader’s achievements and contributions and salutary headlines such as “Palani Power”.

The back cover, however, highlighted the purported wrongdoings of deputy president Dr S Subramaniam and his supporters.

Subramaniam has been locked in a power struggle against Palanivel for months. Palanivel suspended his deputy’s membership and that of 13 supporters earlier this week. In return, Subramaniam declared Palanivel suspended and declared himself as acting president.

A rival gathering of Subramaniam’s supporters will be held tomorrow, also at PWTC.

Among those who backed Palanivel today was Negeri Sembilan MIC leader A. Ganesan who declared “the future of our next generation is in the hands of Datuk Seri G. Palanivel”, according to the Malaysian Insider.

MIC leaders also sought to denounce Subramaniam’s supporters, which includes M. Saravanan and S.K. Devamany, the Speaker of the Perak state assembly.

“Subramaniam can never be the president, he will always be the deputy president of MIC,” said Pahang MIC leader K. Tamil Selvam. “Pahang MIC today states its support for Palanivel as the MIC president”, the report said.