Senator C Sivarraajh has admitted that he had two meetings with Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin in the weeks after he was sacked as MIC’s Central Working Committee (CWC) member earlier last month.
However, Sivarraajh, who quit MIC on June 27, told Malaysiakini that he has so far yet to decide on his next political move - whether to join an existing party or otherwise.
This follows rumours that the former MIC vice-president had met with Hamzah to discuss joining Perikatan Nasional (PN) by heading a special committee for Indians.
“I did meet with Hamzah twice after I was sacked from the CWC. He contacted me and I went to see him.
“But we did not discuss anything about (me) joining PN. Those were just ordinary meetings,” Sivarraajh told Malaysiakini yesterday.
“For now, I am still a free man. I have no problems meeting anyone. Previously, I met with several leaders in the government. But I have yet to decide on whether to join any new party.
“I will consider all available options before deciding on the future of my political career,” he said.
PN’s own Indian party?
Sources from within MIC and Bersatu previously told Malaysiakini that Sivarraajh is expected to “join PN soon”.
A source from Bersatu claimed that Sivarraajh and former Selangor MIC Youth chief P Punithan, who also quit MIC in recent weeks, had held several meetings with Hamzah before announcing their departures from the BN component party.
“He (Sivarraajh) met with Hamzah several times. He was offered to set up a special committee for the Indian community.
“If PN returned to (federal) power, Sivarraajh is promised a cabinet minister’s post,” said the source.
Another source from MIC corroborated the Bersatu source’s information that Sivarraajh is unlikely to join any PN component party but be made directly in charge of the special committee for Indians.
“Sivarraajh quit MIC because he wanted to join PN. Not Bersatu, Gerakan, or PAS. But a special committee for Indians that he will be tasked to lead.
“Maybe in the future, the committee will be transformed into a political party for Indians in PN,” said the source.
Further, the source also cited Punithan’s departure as being motivated by the same plan.
In announcing his departure on June 27, Sivarraajh said he had made the best decision for himself and the party, claiming that his presence was seen as a “threat” to the present MIC leadership.
He also claimed to be faced with “obstructions” from continuing his services to the people and the country.
‘How did MIC obstruct him?’
When contacted, MIC vice-president T Mohan demanded Sivarraajh explain his claim of being obstructed.
“What are his contributions to the party all these while? After he lost the vice-president’s post in the party’s election, MIC central leaders appointed him as a CWC member.
“He was also appointed as coordinator for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat, a seat traditionally ‘belonging’ to MCA,” Mohan told Malaysiakini.
“The party’s leaders negotiated with MCA and gave him a chance to contest in the 15th general election, after which they supported his appointment as a senator.
“So, how did the party obstruct him?” said Mohan.
Sivarraajh previously claimed he was not informed of the reason for his sacking from the CWC.
However, Malaysiakini learnt that the disciplinary action was taken following Sivarraajh’s absence from the “Madani Government: Educational Development and Future of Indians” programme organised by MIC's Education Bureau.
The programme held on June 10 was supported by the Malaysian Indians Transformation Unit and launched by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. - Mkini
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