Pro-Palanivel group files 'corruption' case against Subramaniam

The MIC faction aligned to former president G Palanivel has filed a case against current president Dr S Subramaniam, accusing him of corruption.

Former MIC treasurer-general R Ramanan said the case, which was filed in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today, was to expose how Subramaniam had “misled and corrupted” offiicers from the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

Ramanan claimed that Subramaniam, who is health minister, had become the party’s president by way of “corrupt means”.

Urging Subramaniam to therefore clear his name, the group is also seeking that he be removed as MIC president.

“Subramaniam is a cheat. He’s a liar and he’s a fraud,” Ramanan said outside the court today to applause from some 500 supporters.

“He has cheated the prime minister and Barisan Nasional. He has misled them into believing that he has the support of the Indian community.”

Gesturing to the supporters outside the court today, Ramanan (centre in photo) claimed they are MIC branch chairpersons who have come to showcase their support.

Subramaniam, he added, had continuously declined to answer the claims made against him.

“But today, with this case being filed, he cannot use that excuse. Here you will, and you must, answer.

“If and when the case is heard, it'll be clear that fraud that has taken place.”

The group is also demanding that Subramaniam be suspended as health minister with immediate effect, since “lives are at stake”.

“All medical supplies are awarded by him. He's a corrupt minister. We don't know what kind of medical supplies we are getting, we don't know who the contracts are going to,” Ramanan said.

He also expressed confidence that Subramaniam and his supporters would land themselves behind bars.

“He will go to jail,” Ramanan said to cheers from the crowd.

Meanwhile, former MIC strategy director K Ramalingam said the statement of claim would be provided to the media next week.

This is because they first want to serve the sealed copy served on the defendants in the “soonest time possible”.

Palanivel was automatically expelled from the MIC in June last year, after bringing the party matter to court.

His faction has continuously been alleging conspiracy between the pro-Subramaniam camp and the RoS to topple Palanivel from being the party’s number one man, a claim denied by the RoS director-general. -Mkini