Subra: MIC at standstill for two years due to politicking

Party's relevance to the community and BN will be questioned if it does not do well in the next general election, says its president

PUTRAJAYA: The 68th MIC annual general meeting tomorrow will hear an impassioned plea for members to stop politicking and put their heart and soul into work to prepare for the 14th general election.

Dr S. Subramaniam, who will deliver his maiden opening speech as MIC president at the one-day AGM, will underscore his determination to take the party back to its glory days.

Dr Subramaniam, who is health minister, said there had been too much politicking, and the party was at a standstill the last two years.

“Our task now, as we address immediate problems, is to rejuvenate the party and find a new direction to regain the trust of the Indian community and remain relevant.

“This is a huge responsibility and it has to be tackled with a sense of urgency. The next two years will be very crucial for us,” he said in an interview ahead of the AGM.

“Our relevance to the community and Barisan Nasional will become questionable if MIC doesn’t do well, or loses our current seats, in the next general election. We have no time for any more politicking.

“We have to draw up an agenda, act on it and keep moving,” Dr Subramaniam said.

He has been going down to the ground and meeting branch and grassroots leaders and members to explain the importance of staying united “for the good of the community, party and nation”.

“I have to meet them and explain personally what I need (from them) to revive the glory of MIC,” he said.

Dr Subramniam said the Indian community had great expectations of MIC.

“If we meet these expectations, the community will be with us. But if we don’t, we lose them for good,” he said.

To a question, Dr Subramaniam said MIC would open its doors to supporters of former MIC president G. Palanivel at the end of this year or early next year.

Dr Subramniam said Palanivel could also appeal to revive his membership and the central working committee would decide on the matter.

“We did not invite Palanivel to our AGM as we think he will feel uncomfortable,” he said.

Dr Subramaniam was confident that the AGM would proceed smoothly even though there had been talk that supporters of Palanivel might create a commotion.

MIC secretary-general A. Sakhtivel confirmed that the AGM and party elections would be held on the same day tomorrow at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang, and not over two days as scheduled earlier.

– BERNAMA