Former N Sembilan MIC chief quits party, cites 'disappointment'

 

Former Negeri Sembilan MIC chief L Manickam has resigned from his division chief position and quit the BN component party with immediate effect.

He was replaced as the state MIC chief by VS Mogan last week.

Manickam, who led the Jempol MIC division, announced his decision in a Facebook post today, along with a letter addressed to party president SA Vigneswaran.

In his letter, Manickam, a former two-term Jeram Padang assemblyperson, cited two reasons for his decision, including MIC's decision to make way in the seat for Umno to contest in the last state elections.

"We were informed in an MIC Central Working Committee meeting that BN did not offer (us) the seat to contest, and Umno had claimed it.

"For that reason, I supported MIC's decision to not contest (the state elections)," he said in the letter dated today.

MIC and BN component MCA had stayed out of the last six state elections, leaving Umno to negotiate seat allocations with new allies Pakatan Harapan.

Manickam said he was later informed that Umno did not stake its claim on Jeram Padang, and so Negeri Sembilan MIC appealed to defend the seat but was allegedly ignored.

"I was very disappointed with this situation," wrote the former Negeri Sembilan state exco.

The seat was eventually won by BN through Umno's Mohd Zaidy Abdul Kadir.

Further, Manickam expressed regret over instructions from MIC secretary-general RT Rajasekaran for Jempol MIC to redo its division meeting, citing a lack of quorum.

Manickam alleged that Rajasekaran was only briefly present at the meeting and failed to carry out his duties, including confirming attendance and quorum.

"I apologise for this decision that I’m forced to make.

"I have a heavy heart to leave MIC which has been my 'home' for 45 years," said Manickam, who first joined the party in 1979 as an ordinary member of its Jenjarom branch, under the Kuala Langat division. - Mkini