More voices add to Umno’s pressure on Palanivel

Academicians are quoted echoing Subramaniam's contention that MIC president no longer a member

KUALA LUMPUR: More voices sounded out today to add to Umno’s pressure on embattled MIC president G Palanivel in the deadlock between him and his deputy S Subramaniam in their continuing power struggle.

The national news agency, Bernama, in a report headlined “Just Move On, Palanivel – Experts”, quoted several academicians and former MIC politicians urging Palanivel to “move on”, in line with views expressed by Umno.

They echoed Subramaniam’s contention, repeated by Barisan Nasional secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor, that Palanivel had forfeited his party membership under the MIC constitution and was no longer MIC president. Subramaniam has declared himself acting president.

However, Palanivel has rejected suggestions that the Registrar of Societies had endorsed such a view, contending instead that he had already suspended Subramaniam’s membership beforehand.

Bernama quoted three academicians who repeated the Subramaniam line. However, it also quoted associate professor Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani of Universiti Utara Malaysia as saying that Palanivel could appeal to the registrar and take the matter to court to clarify the issue.

He also contended that the registrar had acted based on his interpretation of the MIC constitution.

However lawyer R T Rajasekaran was quoted as saying that any interpretation of the MIC constitution should be left only to the MIC members to decide. “Giving the registrar more scope than what is allowed under the Societies Act and the MIC constitution may cause further confusion to all concerned,” he contended.

Political analyst Ahmad Marthada Mohamed, also of Universiti Utara Malaysia, said Palanivel could challenge the legality of the registrar’s decision and apply for a declaration that the RoS’s decision was invalid.

Yesterday, Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Razak had said that it was up to the MIC to sort out its problems and to abide by the registrar’s decision.

Subramaniam on Thursday had issued a statement, with a copy of the registrar’s letter. He contended that the letter showed that the registrar had stated that Palanivel had ceased to be a member of the MIC.

However, on Friday, MIC secretary-general S Sothinathan said the registrar’s letter followed standard procedures of government departments and it had been interpreted for the personal and political agendas of others.

He noted that the registrar had not made any determination on the application of Article 91 of the MIC Constitution as the registry officials knew they lacked jurisdiction on interpreting the party constitution.

“Only the MIC president and Central Working Committee (CWC) members have the powers to interpret the party constitution and not the RoS,” he said.

However other academicians echoed Subramaniam’s contention that the registrar had made a decision in his favour.

Political studies lecturer Md Shukri Shuib urged Palanivel to respect “the RoS’s decision”, and “urged Subramaniam to steer the party towards the right direction”.

“If unhappy, please refer directly to the RoS, instead of using the media as a tool for political warfare. Settle MIC’s internal issues amicably,” he was quoted as saying.

Bernama also quoted former MIC secretary-general G Vadiveloo, saying that Malaysia’s political culture was for “strong leaders”, was also quoted echoing Subramaniam’s contention that Palanivel was no longer party president or even a member of the party. So did former vice-president S K Devamany who contended that “the RoS letter is very clear”. He also contended that “the decision” was based on law, and that Palanivel had to accept it.