Retirement plan proposal for elders in MIC

The MIC Youth wants leaders above 65-years to retire

PETALING JAYA: A MIC Youth leader has proposed a “volunteer retirement plan” for leaders who have exceeded the age of 65-years in the party.

The party youth wing information chief S Subramaniam said the proposal was made in good faith for the betterment of the party.

“We are not against these elder leaders. In fact we appreciate what they have done for the community and party all these years. But all good things must come to an end sometime. We in the youth wing feel that it is time for the older leaders to step down.

“This would allow younger leaders to takeover and prepare the party for the next general election. We can also attract the youth and the younger generation to moot their ideas for the party. We are not making this call due to political reasons but with party interest at heart,” he told FMT.

“We want a plan similar to the ‘Kamaraj plan’ in Tamilnadu, India. The retirement plan should apply to all the senior national, division and branch leaders. This is part of the party’s transformation.

“After our performance in the just concluded election, we need young and vibrant leaders to take over the party,” he added.

The Kamaraj Plan was formulated in 1963 by K Kamaraj, the former president of the Indian National Congress party and also Tamil Nadu chief minister.

The plan called for senior party leaders above the age of 65-years to resigned and devote their energy to revitalise the party.

“This policy must be applied from top to bottom. Otherwise, the party will look at a pensioners club in a decade,” said Subramaniam.

He said some senior leaders were holding on to the positions for a very longtime and this has been identified as a reason why the party had failed to attract young blood.

“There are several branch chairmen holding position for nearly 40 years which is really unhealthy.  How can you expect Indians to join the party, when the veterans are adamant to vacate their positions?” he asked

FMT learnt that about 160 youth leaders would be ineligible to hold their respective positions in the youth wing as they would have passed the cut off age of 40.

They would need to move up the ranks to stay relevant in the party but senior leaders have their path blocked.